Full Council/ Mayor Making
Manage the strategic delivery of all of the council’s activities.
Dates
Mon 19th May 2025, 7:00pm
In Categories
Location
Macclesfield Town Council Notice of Meeting
9th May 2025
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 Annual Council meeting to be held at
Macclesfield Town Hall
on
19th May 2025
commencing at 7pm,
for the purpose of transacting the business shown on the attached agenda.
With thanks,
Laura Smith
Town Clerk
Agenda for the Annual General Meeting and Mayor Making to be held on Monday 19th May 2025 at 7pm at Macclesfield Town Hall.
This meeting is open to the public, but space may be limited. Should you wish to attend please inform the Town Clerk.
1. Election of the Mayor of Macclesfield for 2025/26
2. Election of the Deputy Mayor of Macclesfield for 2025/26
The retiring mayor will adjourn the meeting whilst the newly elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor receive their insignia of office.
The Town Clerk will call upon the Mayor of Macclesfield to read and sign their declaration accepting the office of Mayor of Macclesfield.
The Town Clerk will call upon the Deputy Mayor of Macclesfield to read and sign their declaration accepting the office of Deputy Mayor of Macclesfield.
The meeting will then be re-convened.
3. Retiring Mayor of Macclesfield Remarks
4. Tribute by the Incoming Mayor of Macclesfield to the Retiring Mayor of Macclesfield and Consort
5. Appointment (if known) of the Mayor’s Honorary Chaplain, Mayor’s Cadet, Introduction to the Mayor’s Charity/ies to be Supported and Plans for the Year
6. Apologies for Absence
7. Declarations of Interest
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 on Thursday 15th May 2025. 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 on Thursday 9th May 2024.
Please note this is a face to face meeting and numbers in the room are very limited. If you wish to attend please register with the clerk by emailing [email protected]
8. Minutes of the Meeting of Full Council 10th March 2025
8. Minutes Full Council 10 03 25
Action: To consider the draft minutes and approve them as a true record of the meeting.
9. Governance Review
9.1 Town Council Risk Register APR 25
9.1 Risk register
Action: To approve the financial regulations.
9.2 Financial Regulations
Action: To approve the risk register.
9.3 Committee Membership
Action: To approve the committee memberships
10. Audit For Financial Year 2024/25
Action:
- To consider the approval of the Annual Governance Statement.
- To consider the approval of the Accounting Statements 2024/25
- To ensure the Accounting Statements are signed and dated by the person presiding at the meeting at which that approval is given.
- To increase the fidelity insurance to £5million, which is the next level, inline with the internal audit actions.
- To note the asset register.
- To consider the movements in Ear marked Reserves (EMR)
11. Internal Auditor
Action: To approve JDH Business Services as internal auditor 2025/26
12. CCTV Annual Report
To note the report.
13. External Support Services
Action:
- To approve Wirehouse Employer Services for HR and H&S support.
- To approve Shires Pay Services Ltd for Payroll Services.
- To approve Blain Boland & Co Solicitors for legal support.
- To approve John Greenhall & Co for finance and accountancy support
- To increase the amount of fidelity insurance to £5million
14. Cheshire Association of Local Councils (Chalc)
Action: To consider the renewal of membership of ChALC.
15. Other Memberships
Action: to consider renewal of the following memberships
- National Allotment Society.
16. Annual report
To note and receive the 2024/25 Annual Report of the Town Council.
17. Christmas Lights Procurement
Action: To approval the selected provider.
18. Buses report
Action: To approve the proposal approved by Services Committee.
19. Parks and Play Areas
Action: To approve £35,000 towards West Park
20. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The date of the next meeting of Macclesfield Town Council is 7pm, 29th July 2024 at Macclesfield Town Hall.
Macclesfield Town Council Annual Council Meeting
Minutes of the Annual Council Meeting and Mayor Making held on Monday 19th May 2025 at 7pm at Macclesfield Town Hall.
1. Election of the Mayor of Macclesfield for 2025/26
Cllr Emma Gilman was elected as Mayor of Macclesfield 2025/26
2. Election of the Deputy Mayor of Macclesfield for 2025/26
Cllr James Barber- Chadwick was elected as Deputy Mayor of Macclesfield 2025/26
The retiring Mayor adjourned the meeting whilst the newly elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor received their insignia of office.
The Town Clerk called upon the Mayor of Macclesfield to read and sign their declaration accepting the office of Mayor of Macclesfield.
The Town Clerk called upon the Deputy Mayor of Macclesfield to read and sign their declaration accepting the office of Deputy Mayor of Macclesfield.
The meeting was then re-convened.
3. Retiring Mayor of Macclesfield Remarks
Councillor Sandy Livingstone congratulated Councillor Gilman on her appointment as Mayor, saying he knew she would do a great job. He shared that although he usually wore a tartan tie, on this occasion he was wearing his rugby club tie in honour of his late father, on what would have been his 80th birthday.
He reflected on the privilege of serving as Mayor during the Town Council’s 10th anniversary, noting how the Council has helped give Macclesfield a strong sense of identity, as well as being instrumental in organising many of the town’s events and supporting vital community work.
He thanked his family, Nicola for organising his Mayoral diary, Martine—his PA in her professional role—and all the Town Council staff for their support. He also thanked his cadet, Hugo. Councillor Livingstone recalled highlights from his year, including joining the drumming band during the 1261 Parade and riding a Chopper bike around the Market Square at the Bikeathon, all of which he described as great fun. He expressed gratitude to his fellow councillors for their support and guidance, and to all the volunteers, including the Mayoress.
He described his time as Mayor as a service to the town of Macclesfield, saying he found richness in the communities he engaged with, the charities he supported, and the town’s arts, music, and culture. He remarked that there is something for everyone in Macclesfield—if you look for it.
He gave special thanks to his chosen charities, Space4Autism and ArtSpace, and presented them with cheques from his Mayoral fundraising. He highlighted three memorable moments from his year. The first was the Just Drop-In Carol Service, where a young girl with anxiety stood up and sang in front of 200 people. The second was experiencing VE Day at the Cenotaph, which included the addition of 21 names to the memorial, thanks to the work of Harry Carlisle. His final highlight was the Burns Night ceilidh, which raised significant funds for charity and filled the Town Hall with energy and dancing. He ended by thanking everyone for their support, saying he is a very lucky man, and gave a heartfelt thank you to the people of Macclesfield.
4. Tribute by the Incoming Mayor of Macclesfield to the Retiring Mayor of Macclesfield and Consort
The new Mayor of Macclesfield thanked Councillor Livingstone, saying that he had been his authentic self and that it had been an absolute joy to serve as his Deputy Mayor. She praised him for demonstrating the true meaning of what it is to be a Mayor, always putting the community at the heart of everything he did. This was all achieved while holding down a very important full-time job, yet still managing to attend numerous engagements.
From birthday parties and railway exhibitions to pantomimes—often wearing his signature snazzy red trainers—Councillor Livingstone brought energy and personality to every event. He promised at the start of the year that it would be a family affair, and it truly was. The Mayor said it had been a pleasure getting to know the Mayoress and their lovely children, especially at the ceilidh. She noted that Councillor Livingstone has been a good listener, kind, considerate, and patient. He is, in every way, a thoroughly tremendous chap and will be a tough act to follow.
5. Appointment (if known) of the Mayor’s Honorary Chaplain, Mayor’s Cadet, Introduction to the Mayor’s Charity/ies to be Supported and Plans for the Year
The Mayor introduced her Cadet, Adrian from the Royal Air Force Air Cadets.
The Mayor then announced that her mayoral year will focus on children and young people. She introduced her first chosen charities, Friends of Park Lane School which supports Park Lane School catering to pupils aged 2 to 19 with a wide range of special educational needs. The school is a nurturing and friendly environment and is a vital resource in Macclesfield. The Friends of Park Lane school work hard to fundraise to fund experiences and equipment that enhance the lives of the children.
The Mayor’s second charity is Cry, Cardiac Risk in the Young. This charity became especially significant to the Macclesfield community following the tragic loss of Mia Jennings, who tragically passed away from a cardiac arrest on 21st January 2023, at just 19 years old. In her memory, Mia’s parents, James and Louise, have worked tirelessly with CRY to raise awareness and promote cardiac screening among young people, aiming to prevent similar tragedies.
The Mayor told us that Cry is a national charity dedicated to preventing young sudden cardiac deaths through research, awareness, screening, and support for affected families. Each week in the UK, 12 apparently healthy young people lose their lives to undiagnosed heart conditions.
6. Apologies for Absence
Cllr Sarah Bennett-Wake
7. Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest.
Public Questions
The meeting was adjourned to invite comments and questions from the public.
There were no public questions.
The meeting was then reconvened.
8. Minutes of the Meeting of Full Council 10th March 2025
Resolved: The minutes were approved as a true record of the meeting.
9. Governance Review
9.1 Risk register
Resolved: This was approved.
9.2 Financial Regulations
Resolved: This was approved.
9.3 Committee Membership
Resolved: This was approved.
10. Audit For Financial Year 2024/25
Resolved:
- The Annual Governance Statement was approved.
- The Accounting Statements 2024/25 were approved.
- The Accounting Statements were signed and dated by the person presiding at the meeting at which that approval was given.
- The fidelity insurance was increased to £5million.
- The asset register was noted.
- The movements in Ear marked Reserves (EMR) were approved.
11. Internal Auditor
Resolved: DH Business Services as internal auditor 2025/26 was approved.
12. CCTV Annual Report
The report was noted..
13. External Support Services
Resolved: The following were all approved
- To approve Wirehouse Employer Services for HR and H&S support
- To approve Shires Pay Services Ltd for Payroll Services
- To approve Blain Boland & Co Solicitors for legal support
- To approve John Greenhall & Co for finance and accountancy support
14. Cheshire Association of Local Councils (Chalc)
Resolved: The renewal of membership of ChALC was approved.
15. Other Memberships
Resolved: The membership was approved
- National Allotment Society.
16. Annual report
The 2024/25 Annual Report of the Town Council was noted.
17. Christmas Lights Procurement
Resolved: The selected provider was approved.
18. Buses report
Resolved: To approve the proposal approved by Services Committee.
19. Parks and Play Areas
Resolved: £35,000 was approved for West Park.
20. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting
The date of the next meeting of Macclesfield Town Council is 7pm, 9th June 2025 at Macclesfield Town Hall.
Chair: Cllr Emma Gilman
Clerk: Laura Smith
Meeting Closed 7:46pm