Full Council
Manage the strategic delivery of all of the council’s activities.
Macclesfield Town Council Notice of Meeting
Macclesfield Town Council Full Council
6th December 2024
To Chair Cllr Sandy Livingstone and Councillors James Barber, Sarah Bennett-Wake, David Edwardes, Emma Gilman, Sam Hale, Alift Harewood-Jones, Mike Hutchison, Ruth Thompson, Mick Warren, Chris Wilcock and Fiona Wilson
You are hereby summoned to attend a meeting of
Macclesfield Town Council’s Full Council meeting to be held at
Macclesfield Town Hall
on
16th December 2024
commencing at 7pm,
for the purpose of transacting the business shown on the attached agenda.
With thanks,
Laura Smith
Town Clerk
Agenda
The agenda of the meeting to be held on the on 16th December 2024 at 7pm at Macclesfield Town Hall.
1 Apologies for Absence
To receive apologies and approval.
2 Declarations of Interest
To receive declarations of interests from members relevant to items under discussion at the meeting.
Public Questions
The meeting will be adjourned to invite comments and questions from the public.
The meeting will then be reconvened.
NOTE:
If you would like to speak during public session, please email
[email protected] by 5pm Thursday 12th December 2024. Every practicable effort will be made to try and arrange your inclusion.
If you would like to submit a written statement, please submit your statement for inclusion and circulation to the committee to [email protected] by 5pm Thursday 12th December 2024.
3 Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 28th October 2024
3. Minutes Full Council 28 10 24
Action: To approve the minutes.
4 Matters Arising from the Minutes
Action: To consider any matters arising from the minutes.
5 Planning Committee
5.1 Planning Committee Minutes 9th October 2024
5.1 PC Minutes 9th October 2024
5.2 Planning Committee Minutes 13th November 2024
5.2 Planning Minutes 16th November 2024
To note the minutes above.
5.3 Matters arising from the Minutes
To consider any matters arising from the minutes.
6 Services Committee
6.1 Services Committee Minutes 2nd December 2024
6.1 Services Committee Minutes 2nd Dec 2024
To note the minutes above.
6.2 Matters arising from the Minutes
To consider any matters arising from the minutes.
7 Finance Committee
7.1 Finance Committee Minutes 11th November 2024
7.1 Finance Committee Minutes 11th November 2024
To note the minutes above.
7.2 Matters arising from the Minutes
To consider any matters arising from the minutes.
8 Community Delivery
8.1 Local Police Unit
Chief Inspector to brief the Council.
8.2 CAB
8.2 CAB Report
To receive and note the report.
8.3 CCTV
8.3 CCTV
The CEC CCTV will be present at the meeting.
8.4 Silk Museum
To receive and note the report.
9 Governance Review
9.1 Banking Proposal
9.1 Banking Proposal
Action: To consider the proposal in the report.
9.2 Financial Regulations
9.2 Financial Regulations
Action: To review the above policies.
10 Budget 2024/25
10 Budget 25-26
Action: To approve the budget for 2024/25
11 Internal Audit
11. Intermin Audit
To note the internal audit and actions taken.
12 South Park Pavilion Update
12. South Park Pavilion Update Report
Actions:
- To approve PE Jones as the contractor for the South Park Pavilion building project, subject to AMP.
- To agree a date for a Full Council meeting in January 25.
13 Macc Means Business Grant application for Business Improvement District
13. MMB Application for funding for the BID Feasibility Study
Action: To consider the proposal from Macc Means Business
14 Parks and Play Areas
Action: To consider the funding for Tytherington play area and West Park.
15 Members Item
15. White Ribbon Supporter Proposal
Action: To consider Cllr Barber proposal to become a supporting White ribbon organisation.
16 Date/Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Full Council will be held on 10th March 2024 at the Town Hall.
Macclesfield Town Council Full Council Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on the 16th December 2024 at 7pm at Macclesfield Town Hall.
In Attendance:
- Cllr Sandy Livingstone
- Cllr Emma Gilman
- Cllr Fiona Wilson
- Cllr Alift Harewood- Jones
- Cllr James Barber
- Cllr Mike Hutchison
- Cllr Sarah Bennett-Wake
- Cllr Sam Hale
- Cllr Ruth Thompson
1 Apologies for Absence
Cllr David Edwardes
Cllr Mick Warren
Cllr Chris Wilcock
2 Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest.
Public Questions
The meeting was adjourned to invite comments and questions from the public.
Sergeant Devlin-Ayres attended on behalf of the LPU to update on agenda item 8.1. She said there had been a number of police operations since the last meeting, including two at the railway station, using drug dogs and in conjunction with the Transport Police. There were forty stop searches on 6th October 2024, there were six community resolutions and three people charged with drug and weapon offences. There was a further operation in November. The objective of these operations is to make Cheshire a hostile environment for crime and give the message it will not be tolerated.
On 12th November 2024 a warrant was executed at an address in Macclesfield, after receiving drugs intelligence reports, including from residents. This including reports of a crossbow being fired. Two people were arrested and a significant amount of cash and drugs were seized along with four crossbows with bolts, air rifles, an axe and other weapons. One person has been charged and is in custody.
Operation jingles started on 30th November 2024 and runs until 2nd January 2025, where there are extra patrols in town at events and markets and at night to insure communities are kept safe, supported by traffic police.
Intelligence continues to come in and more warrants will be executed over the next weeks.
Cllr Mike Hutchison asked about the number of domestic violence crimes? Sergeant Devlin-Ayres said she would get the information for him.
Cllr Sarah Bennett-Wake asked if there has been a rise in vehicle theft? Sergent Devlin- Ayres said the stats show no increase.
Cllr Livingstone and the Council gave thanks to CI Sarah O’Driscoll, who is moving on.
Will McKellar, attended to update on behalf of the CAB, agenda item 8.2. He said seasonal reductions can appear in statistics and the run up to Christmas is one of those times. Their interactions with clients has resulted in increased income for local clients by maximising their income. There has also been a notable increase in clients with debt issues.
In the new year they will be working with CVS and CORE to have an advisor at the food pantry to see if they can support the people who attend, helping with any issues. The family service has had more funding, after the 12 month pilot in Ash Grove, which has worked well and they are looking to extend it geographically.
Cllr Mike Hutchison asked how many people they have helped with pension credit applications? Will replied they had run several events open to anyone to attend to get information and advice about pension credits, after they had run a successful one with the Town Council. He said that these events bring more people in to apply as this particular cohort tend not to come in independently.
Cllr Hutchison also asked if there were other groups who proactively seek out people who maybe able to apply. Will replied that Peaks and Plains and Age UK also do this.
Cllr Sarah- Bennett- Wake vouched for Peaks and Plains and said they have promoted pension credits on her ward.
Cllr Bennett-Wake also asked if the case study was a typical case study where people may lose their homes. Will said he can send the breakdown of the debt issues but mortgage payments and lack of affordable housing plus a smaller pool for renters, caused housing and then subsequent debt issues.
Cllr Sarah Bennett-Wake asked what an affordable amount for housing for clients is. Will said he did not know, but that many people on means tested benefits still could not meet their monthly living payments including utilities. Will, said he would send debt and housing states to the clerk for Councillors.
Tony Jones attended from Macc Means Business (MMB) on agenda item 13. MMB are requesting funding for a Business Improvement District (BID) feasibility study for Macclesfield Town Centre. He himself has been involved with Stockport bid and Wilmslow Bid. He talked of the bids that exist, in Stockport and Wilmslow and that footfall had increased due to the BID and the town centres were safer. In Wilmslow new businesses have opened including premium brands saying the BID was a factor.
Cllr Mike Hutchison said the cost of the feasibility study seemed very high, nearly £10,000. Mr Jones said the work took place over a 3 month period, including several sessions with local businesses.
Cllr Fiona Wilson asked about MMB and the BID, fitting with the MTC Strategic Plan, however, she believed that Macclesfield Town Council already do a lot of the work a BID may do. Mr Jones said that increased funding and resources due to the BID would mean they could promote the town, put on more events, and improve comms making them slicker.
Cllr Wilson also said the Town Council pride themselves on the events they provide for free, which is very important to residents in the town. Mr Jones replied that BID events have been free in other towns, and they recognise that the Town Council do a wonderful job and they want to amplify that.
Cllr Alift Harewood asked what area the BID would cover, and Mr Jones said it was generally the area of the town centre.
Cllr Bennett-Wake asked if there was evidence on the impacts of a BID on businesses e.g. Increased footfall that could be shared. Mr Jones said they did have that information and would share it.
Cllr Wilson asked about Town Council involvement and how they would be represented. Mr Jones replied that the Wilmslow BID has Mark Goldsmith, a Town Councillor involved.
Cllr James Barber asked about the levy and how confident MMB were that it would not be a burden to local businesses. He also asked about the homelessness in Macclesfield. Mr Jones explained about that the rates for levies can cost around £3 per day for those on the £15,000 business rated threshold and this has been acceptable in other areas. He said the BID does not offer an immediate overnight change for example in Stockport they are on their 2nd BID and the Underbanks has been transformed. He said homelessness was addressed very well in Stockport, through the Council and third sector.
Cllr Sandy Livingstone asked about the cost to run a BID if it was successful. Mr Jones said that there is usually a BID team, in Wilmslow this consists of a part time manager.
Cllr Sam Hale asked about businesses appointing a preferred provider themselves and why MMB could not pay for the feasibility study. Mr Jones said with the Stockport BID they were willing to pay for the study but the Council there wanted to pay.
The meeting was then reconvened.
3 Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held 28th October 2024
Resolved: The minutes of the meeting were approved
4 Matters Arising from the Minutes
Resolved: There were no matters arising from the minutes.
5 Planning Committee
5.1 Planning Committee Minutes 9th October 2024
5.2 Planning Committee Minutes 13th November 2024
The minutes were noted.
5.3 Matters arising from the Minutes
There were no matters arising.
6 Services Committee
6.1 Services Committee Minutes 2nd December 2024
The minutes above were noted.
6.2 Matters arising from the Minutes
There were no matters arising.
7 Finance Committee
7.1 Finance Committee Minutes 11th November 2024
The minutes were noted.
7.2 Matters arising from the Minutes
There were no matters arising.
8 Community Delivery
8.1 Local Police Unit
This item was covered in the public speaking section.
8.2 CAB
This item was covered in the public speaking section.
8.3 CCTV
Resolved: The Mayor to write to CCTV, CEC CEO and the Head of Place again requesting regular attendance at meetings and meaningful reporting for a service the Town Council makes a significant grant towards.
8.4 Silk Museum
The report was noted.
9 Governance Review
9.1 Banking Proposal
Resolved: The proposal in the report was approved.
9.2 Financial Regulations
Resolved: The above policy was approved.
10 Budget 2024/25
Resolved: The budget for 2024/25 was approved.
11 Internal Audit
The internal audit and actions taken were noted.
12 South Park Pavilion Update Report for Council
Actions:
- PE Jones is approved as the contractor for the South Park Pavilion building project subject to the AMP.
- The date for a Full Council meeting is set for 27th
13 Macc Means Business Grant application for Business Improvement District
Resolved: This item has been deferred to bring together TCRWG, Macc Means Business and other interested Cllrs to meet so the Town Council can make a more informed decision.
14 Parks and Play Areas
Resolved: The funding for Tytherington play area and West Park was approved as in the report.
15 Members Item
Resolved: The proposal to become a supporting White ribbon organisation was approved.
16 Date/Time and Place of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Full Council will be held on 27th Jan 2025 at the Town Hall.
Chair: Cllr Sandy Livingstone
Clerk: Laura Smith
Meeting closed 8:37pm