Issue - meetings

To consider the recommendations from the Corporate Policy Committee.

Consideration was given to the recommendations from the Corporate Policy Committee on 6 February 2025 in relation to the Calendar of Meetings for the municipal year 2025/26.

RESOLVED:  That Council agrees

1               the approval of the Calendar of Meeting for Cheshire East Council for the municipal year 2025-26 and notes the draft Calendar for June to October 2026.

2               that the start times for morning meetings, excluding full Council, be 10.30 am.

3               that each committee determine whether their committee meetings during the 2025-26 municipal year should include twilight meetings, which should start no earlier than 5.30 pm.

To consider the proposed calendar of meetings for the municipal year 2025-26.

The committee considered the draft calendar of meetings for the council municipal year 2025-26 and a draft calendar of dates of meetings for the period June – October 2026.

A friendly amendment was proposed, and supported by the committee, in relation to recommendation 3. As set out below.

‘That each committee determine whether their committee meetings during the 2025-26 municipal year should include twilight meetings, which should start no earlier than 5.30pm’.

It was agreed that there needed to be consistency around the start-time of twilight meetings and that such meetings would be vital to assisting working members and members with caring commitments.

Members referred to the proposed dates for Full Council meetings and requested that under no circumstances were these dates changed as changes to these meetings caused working members great difficulty in attending and ensuring they maintained their councillor attendance record.

RESOLVED (unanimously):

That the Corporate Policy Committee recommend to Full Council

1. The approval of the draft calendar of meetings for Cheshire East Council for the municipal year 2025-26 and that the draft calendar for June to October 2026 be noted.

2. That the start time for morning meetings, excluding Full Council, be 10.30am.

3. That each committee determine whether their committee meetings during the 2025-36 municipal year should include twilight meetings, which should start no earlier than 5.30pm.