Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests, other registerable interests, and non-registerable interests in any item on the agenda.

In the interest of openness, the following declarations were made:

Councillor M Gorman declared he was a member of the Cheshire Pension Fund Committee.

Councillors D Clark, K Edwards, R Fletcher, S Gardiner and A Moran declared that they were beneficiaries of the Cheshire Local Government pension scheme.

Councillors L Anderson and A Kolker declared that they were trustees of Everybody Leisure

Councillors L Buchanan and B Wye declared that they were employees of Everybody Health and Leisure.

The Interim Director of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer) declared that he would leave the meeting during consideration of Item 18 – Extension of the period of appointment of the Council’s Monitoring Officer, as this decision related to his appointment.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 10 December 2025.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2025 be approved as a correct record, subject to the following amendments:

1               Minute 57 Public Speaking Time – amend paragraph 6 of Cllr Gorman’s response to public speakers on Adlington New Town to read “Cllr Gorman understood that the Notion of Motion, which would be debated in full in the meeting, was to oppose the development of Adlington, and this would have his full support and the full support of the Cheshire East Independent Group and the administration of the Council.”

2               Minute 68 Questions - amend Councillor Brooks’ question to read ‘18,000 visitors to the Treacle market’.

The Mayor reported that the details of the mayoral events that he and the Deputy Mayor had undertaken since the last meeting were available on the Council’s website.

In accordance the Council Procedural Rules, a total period of 30 minutes is allocated for members of the public to speak at Council meetings. Individual members of the public may speak for up to 2 minutes, but the Chair will have discretion to vary this requirement where they consider it appropriate. 

Members of the public wishing to speak are required to provide notice of this at least three clear working days’ in advance of the meeting and should include the question with that notice.  Requests to speak and questions should be submitted via the Register to Speak form.

Petitions - To receive any petitions which have met the criteria - Petitions Scheme Criteria, and falls within the remit of the Committee. Petition organisers will be allowed up to three minutes to speak.

Congleton Town Councillor Robert Douglas highlighted that following the Government’s increase in the annual housing requirement for Cheshire East, the Council no longer had a five-year housing land supply. Councillor Douglas stated the impact that this had on planning decisions. Councillor Douglas felt having a five-year housing land supply was imperative for the Council in order to prevent inappropriate planning applications. He urged the Leader of the Council to request that a rigorous analysis be undertaken of every brownfield site, ensuring that the Council’s brownfield register remained up to date. Finally, Councillor Douglas requested that a Motion to be brought to the full Council meeting in May, calling on the Government to allow any brownfield site deemed appropriate to be compulsorily purchased, just as the Government had done for HS2, to achieve a five-year land supply.

In response Councillor David Jefferay, Chair of the Environment and Communities Committee, stated that the Council’s Brownfield Land Register was updated each year and, subject to no referral requests being received over the next few days, the 2026 register would be published shortly on the Council’s website. Councillor Jefferay highlighted that the Brownfield Land Register was not a comprehensive list of all brownfield sites and that regulations set out that, to be included, sites must not only meet the national definition of previously developed land but must also exceed minimum size thresholds and be considered suitable, available and achievable for residential?led development. For this reason, sites with planning permission or allocation in the Local Plan for residential development were included, as they had already undergone detailed assessment and community consultation. Other previously developed/brownfield sites without planning permission may exist, and parties were able to submit such sites to the Council throughout the year for consideration. Councillor Jefferay confirmed that the Council was preparing to start work on a new Local Plan that would consider the development needs of the Borough into the 2040s. Due to the complex nature of the questions raised, Councillor Jefferay committed to providing a full detailed response to Councillor Douglas.

Mr Stuart Redgard made a statement on behalf of Mr Peter Griffith who was unable to attend. Mr Redgard shared Mr Griffith’s concerns in relation to the damage caused to his property over the last five years. Mr Griffith stated that he intended to sue the Council for professional negligence due to its failure to adequately manage and maintain its drainage gullies on the public highway in front of Mr Griffith’s property. Mr Griffith requested that the Council respond publicly on this matter and set out the reasons for the delay in reaching a resolution.

In response Councillor Mark Goldsmith, Chair of the Highways and Transport Committee, acknowledged the distress and inconvenience that surface water run-off and damp/mould caused residents and recognised the seriousness of the matters raised. Councillor Goldsmith stated that upon receipt of Mr Griffith’s enquiry in July 2025, an officer attended the site and raised a job to undertake high-pressure water jettingof the footway gully,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

To receive such announcements as may be made by the Leader and Deputy Leader.

The Leader, in summary: -

1               reported that the 'Transforming Care Through Innovation – The Occupational Therapy Proportionate Care Project' had been shortlisted for a Local Government Chronicle Award. The initiative had improved independence for residents, and the team had achieved weekly savings of £18,000 by reviewing more than 250 care packages and streamlining pathways.

2               reported that the Council was working with the Police and Crime Commissioner to promote lockable mobile phone pouches in secondary schools and that 63% of high schools have already adopted or plan to adopt them. Early adopters had reported improvements in behaviour and concentration.

3               reported that the Council had launched a new Call for Sites, as part of developing the next Local Plan, which invited landowners, developers, community groups, and residents to suggest land that could potentially be used for housing, employment, minerals, or waste uses in the future. He noted that submitting a site was different from making a planning application and did not guarantee that it would be included in the Local Plan or receive planning permission at a later date.

4               reported that the Leader and Deputy Leader had created short videos to clearly explain the budget-setting process, spending priorities and financial context and encouraged Member to watch and share feedback.

5               reported that the planned school development at Flag Lane Baths in Crewe would not proceed and that the Council would now explore alternative uses for the locally listed site.

6               reported that the refurbished Macclesfield Indoor Market had reopened. The market hall had been extensively modernised, with new trading units, improved lighting, updated flooring and a redesigned layout that created a fresher, more contemporary space for daily trading and events.  He noted that Macclesfield Town Council had supported the refurbishment and had help fund the new public toilet facilities.

7               reported that after Easter an intensive recruitment campaign would begin for the vacant senior officer roles in the Council.

8               reported that the legislation for the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority had been passed by Parliament and the Cheshire and Warrington Shadow Combined Authority would formally begin work in April 2026 and that Nick Walkley had been appointed as the Interim Chief Executive.

The Deputy Leader, in summary: -

1               referred to the Cheshire and Warrington Shadow Combined Authority and stated that a £650m investment fund would support regional regeneration and economic growth and that the Shadow Combined Authority would be part of a trade mission to India later in the year to promote the region for international investment.

2               referred to a visit he had made with Councillor Anthony Harrison, Armed Forces Champion, to see Bentley’s “BeReady’ programme which supported the employment of armed forces veterans.

3               recognised the excellent work being undertaken in the Children and Families Services and encouraged Members to attend one of the deep dive presentations taking place.

4               congratulated Councillor Arthur Moran and Mr Brian Reed, Head of Democatic Services, on their significant birthdays.

To consider the recommendations from the Corporate Policy Committee.

Consideration was given to the recommendations of the Corporate Policy Committee in relation to the Council’s Leader and Cabinet decision-making arrangements.

The Corporate Policy Committee, at its meeting on 12 February 2026, had considered the report which detailed the constitutional and procedural arrangements required for the Council’s transition to a Leader and Cabinet governance model from May 2026.

These Appendices were recommended to Council for adoption, with necessary delegated powers to be given to the Monitoring Officer to make appropriate additions/amendments to the Constitution should the need to do so arise.

RESOLVED:  That Council

1               note, agree and adopt the following procedural rules and other constitutional documents, provisions and recommendations, as are appended and referred to in the report; these, (with the exception of Appendices 11 and 12 which will take effect immediately), to take effect at the Council’s Annual General Meeting on 13 May 2026:

a.      Appendix 1: Recommendations arising from the deliberations of the T&F Group

b.      Appendix 2: Role Descriptions relating to executive arrangements

c.      Appendix 3: Summary and Explanation of executive arrangements

d.      Appendix 4: Access to Information Procedure Rules

e.      Appendix 5: Key Decision definition and related provisions

f.        Appendix 6: Constitution Committee appointment, and Member training and development

g.      Appendix 7: Reviewed Health and Wellbeing Board terms of reference

h.      Appendix 8: Corporate Parenting Board terms of reference and membership arrangements, with a recommendation from Council that the membership be extended to three members (one from each political group)

i.        Appendix 9: Reviewed Finance and Contract Procedure Rules

j.        Appendix 10: Public Rights of Way, Commons and Town and Village Green Decision-Making

k.      Appendix 11: Proposed changes to planning committee functions

l.        Appendix 12: Agency workers and contractors - use of the Comensura (temporary staffing) resource system.

2               note that, at its meeting on 10 December 2025, the Monitoring Officer was authorised, in consultation with the Council’s political group leaders, to make such general and consequential changes to the Council’s Constitution:

a.          as he deems are necessary to give effect to the wishes of Council; or

b.          as he deems to become necessary at short notice, and which may be required to be put in place to ensure the efficient and effective administration of the Council’s decision-making arrangements with effect from 13 May 2026; or

c.          which arise from provisions of legislation.

3               note that, as agreed by Council on 10 December 2025, the implemented Leader and Cabinet arrangements will be reviewed in or around the autumn of 2026, with a view to introducing changes and improvements, where these are deemed to be necessary or desirable.

To consider the recommendations from the Corporate Policy Committtee.

Consideration was given to the recommendations from the Corporate Policy Committee on 12 February 2026 in relation to the Calendar of Meetings for the municipal year 2026/27.

An amendment was proposed and seconded to increase the number of Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings to six.    Following debate, the amendment was put to the vote and declared carried.

A further amendment was proposed and seconded to move the date of budget Council from Wed 24 February 2027 to Wed 3 March 2027.  The amendment was accepted by the proposer and seconder of the Corporate Policy Committee’s recommendations.

RESOLVED:  That Council

1               approves the Calendar of Meeting for Cheshire East Council for the municipal year 2026/27 subject to there being six meeting of the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee, four meetings of the other Overview and Scrutiny Committees, and the date of budget Council in 2027 moves to Wed 3 March 2027

2               that each committee determine whether their committee meetings during the 2026/27 municipal year should include twilight meetings.

To consider the report on the Medium term Financial Strategy 2026/27 - 2029/30 and the Section 25 Statement of the Section 151 Officer.

During consideration of this item, the Mayor was unable to continue to chair the meeting. The Deputy Mayor took the chair for the remainder of the meeting.

Consideration was given to the report on the Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2026/27 - 2029/30.

An Addendum to the report had been published which provided an update on the Exceptional Financial support and on changes to the employer pension contribution rates.  A revised Appendix B had been published to reflect these changes.

The recommendations in the report were proposed and seconded and during the debate, the following amendments were proposed and seconded.

Amendments

In the recommendations in section Full Council is asked to note

Add the following and renumber:

New recommendation 2:

Council welcomes the Government’s decision to refuse Labour/Independent-run Cheshire East Council’s request to increase the Council Tax by 9.99 percent for 2026/27, recognising that such an increase would hurt most those Cheshire East residents least able to mitigate an increase some three times current inflation.

New recommendation 3:

Council notes that the Government’s three-year funding strategy for Cheshire East does not fully cover expected inflation and represents an expected cut in spending power of 3%.

New recommendation 4:

Council notes that the Government’s welfare reforms have removed almost all discretion in relation to working age Council Tax benefit schemes and agrees to make no further changes to the scheme.

In the recommendations in section Full Council be recommended to approve

Amend current recommendation 2 to make add the following to the detailed revenue budgets set out in appendix B as follows:

·       Agree to cut the ward member budgets, with a saving of £43k in 2026/27.

·       Agree to reduce the members’ allowances budget by £44k in 2026/27. (Which recognises the current underspend only as a saving.)

·       Instruct officers to undertake an older people’s housing needs assessment to evidence the level of need for all forms of housing, included supported housing, extra care, and care homes. With this evidence, instruct officers to bring forward proposals for supplementary planning guidance to limit care home developments to the population needs of Cheshire East residents only.

·       Instruct officers to report on the feasibility and service delivery implications of increasing the vacancy rate from the proposed 5 percent to a revised 10 percent and use these savings to reduce the level of Exceptional Financial Support needed in 2026/27 and future years, with expected additional savings of £8,255k in 2026/27, and to explore options for introducing performance related pay for senior officers.

·       Agree that the current SEND Recovery Plan is not working, that the projected overspend for this year has increased from c£32m to c£41m and that the plan does not provide a balanced DSG High Needs budget until 2030. Recognises that the legal framework for assessing need and providing services is likely to change at some point during the period of the 2026 to 2030 MTFS, and

o   instruct officers to bring forward revised proposals for balancing the DSG High Needs budget before the statutory override is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

To consider the report on the Council Tax 2026/27 - Statutory Resolution.

Consideration was given to the updated report relating to the setting of the Council Tax for 2026/27.

As a billing authority Cheshire East Council was responsible for the billing and collection of Council Tax from local taxpayers and must, therefore, make a resolution to set the overall Council Tax level.  This meant the Authority also collected Council Tax income to cover not only its own services but also precepts set by other authorities.

The Council Tax levied was therefore made up of four elements: -

• Cheshire East Borough Council
• Town & Parish Council precepts
• Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire precept
• Cheshire Fire Authority precept.

The motion in respect of the setting of the Council Tax was proposed and seconded. Following debate, in accordance with legislation a recorded vote was carried out in respect to this item, with the following results: -

FOR

Councillors S Adams, L Anderson, S Bennett-Wake, J Bird, L Braithwaite,
J Bratherton, M Brooks, C Browne, L Buchanan, C Bulman, A Burton,
C Chapman, D Clark, A Coiley, N Cook, S Corcoran, L Crane, B Drake,
D Edwardes, K Edwards, M Edwards, H Faddes, E Gilman, M Goldsmith,
M Gorman, M  Houston, D Jefferay, N Mannion, G Marshall, A Moran,
R Moreton, J Place, J Priest, B Puddicombe, J Rhodes, H Seddon, G Smith,
J Snowball, R Vernon, M Warren, F Wilson and B Wye.

AGAINST

Councillors N Beanland, K Burton, R Chadwick, J Clowes, P Coan, T Dean,
S Edgar, A Gage, S Gardiner, E Hall, A Harrison, G Hayes, A Heler, S Holland, T Jackson, A Kolker, R Morris, H Moss, M Muldoon, C O’Leary, J Pearson,
B Posnett, J Pratt, P Redstone, J Saunders, M Sewart, M Simon, L Smetham, L Smith, L Wardlaw, H Whitaker and J Wray.

NOT VOTING

Councillors R Bailey, D Brown, J Knight, R Fletcher, R Kain, Julie Smith and John Smith.

The Motion was declared carried with 42 For, 32 Against and 7 Not Voting.

RESOLVED:   That Council

1               approves a Council Tax for Cheshire East Council for the financial year 2026/27 at £327,118,266 in accordance with the formal resolution, as set out in paragraphs 19 to 23 of the report, as follows:

Formal Resolution

1            That it be noted that on 10 December 2025 the Council calculated the Council Tax base 2026/27

(a)    for the whole Council area as 165,549.87 (item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”)).

(b)    for individual parishes, as in Appendix A to the report.

2        Calculated that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2026/27 (excluding Parish precepts) is £327,118,266.

3        That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2026/27 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

a.  £1,004,947,482   being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act taking into account all  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

To consider the recommendations from the Corporate Policy Committee.

Consideration was given to the recommendations of the Corporate Policy Committee in respect of the Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27.

The Corporate Policy Committee, at its meeting on 12 February 2026, had considered the draft Pay Policy Statement and resolved that Council be recommended to approve the Pay Policy Statement 2026/27.

RESOLVED: 

That Council approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27.

To consider the recommendations from the Finance Sub Committee.

Consideration was given to the recommendations from the Finance Sub Committee held on 30 January 2026 in relation to the approval of supplementary capital estimate and supplementary revenue estimate.

RESOLVED:  That Council approve

1               the Supplementary Capital Estimates over £1,000,000 as set out in Annex 1, Section 4, Table 5 to the report as follows:

Highways and Transport                                   £m

Middlewich Eastern Bypass                              7.490

2        approve the Supplementary Revenue Estimate requests for allocation of additional grant funding over £1,000,000 as set out in Annex 1, Section 3, Table 1 to the report as follows:

Children and Families – Schools                                 £m

Core Schools Budget Grant (special schools)              1.182

National Insurance Contributions (NICs) Grant            1.476

To consider the report on the political representation on the Council’s Committees.

Consideration was given to a report relating to the political representation on the Council’s committees.  The report addressed the changes in political group membership since the last report to Council in October 2025.

RESOLVED:

That the political group and other representation, as set out in the Appendix to the report, and the methods, calculations and conventions used in determining this, as outlined in the report, be adopted and the allocation of places to Committees be approved.

To consider the report that requests that Council appoints two Members to represent the Council on the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority Board, and two Members to act as substitutes for those Members.

Consideration was given to the report on the appointment of two Members to represent the Council on the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority Board (CWCA), and two Members to act as substitutes for those Members.

The Schedule to the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority Order 2026 set out the statutory constitution of CWCA which detailed the membership, quoracy, voting arrangements and payments of allowances for members of the Combined Authority.   Each of the constituent councils must appoint two of its named elected members to become members of the CWCA, and two named elected members to act substitutes.  The position of substitutes was that they would act as a member of the CWCA in the place of either of the members of CWCA, in the event that the CWCA member was unable to attend a meeting.

RESOLVED:  That Council

1               appoint the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council to the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority Board.

2.       delegate authority to the Head of Democratic Services in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader to appoint two substitute Board members, who may be the Cabinet Members with the relevant portfolio(s) of responsibility.

To consider making a nomination for Mayor for 2026/27, who will also act as Chair of the Council, and a nomination for Deputy Mayor for 2026/27.

Consideration was given to the nominations for the office of Mayor and Deputy Mayor for 2026/27.

Mayor for 2026/27

It was proposed and seconded that Councillor Judy Snowball should become Mayor Elect for 2025/27.

Councillor Snowball declared an interest in respect of this item and left the Chamber during its consideration.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Judy Snowball be designated as the Mayor Elect with a view to their formal election and appointment as Mayor for Cheshire East for 2026/27, at the Mayor Making ceremony to be held on 13 May 2026.

Councillor Snowball returned to the meeting.

Deputy Mayor for 2026/27

It was proposed and seconded that Councillor Rob Moreton be designated as Deputy Mayor Elect.

Councillor Moreton declared an interest in respect of this item and left the Chamber during its consideration.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Rob Moreton be designated as the Deputy Mayor Elect, with a view to their formal election and appointment as Deputy Mayor for Cheshire East for 2026/27, at the Mayor Making ceremony to be held on 13 May 2026.

Councillors Moreton returned to the meeting.

To consider any Notices of Motion that have been received in accordance with the Council Procedure Rules.

Consideration was given to the following Notices of Motion which had been submitted in accordance with the Council’s Procedural Rules.

1               Vote to remove the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council from office

Proposed by Councillor S Gardiner and Seconded by Councillor M Beanland

“This Council no longer has confidence in the Leader (Cllr Mannion) or the Deputy Leader (Cllr Gorman) to undertake their duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Nolan Principles and in the interest of the residents of Cheshire East, therefore, we call upon Council to remove the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council from office, in accordance with the provisions set out in the Council’s Constitution (see Section 3(d) of the Role of the Leader and the Deputy Leader).”

Following debate, the Motion was put to the vote and declared lost with 36 votes for, 41 against and 1 not voting.

RESOLVED:

That the Notice of Motion be rejected.

2               Transformation Programme

Proposed by Councillor C O’Leary Seconded by Councillor M Beanland

“Council is disappointed that the Transformation Programme has cost considerably more and so far has failed to deliver c£14m of savings this financial year, with knock on consequences for next and future years. Members are concerned about the ongoing lack of transparency about the programme, the poverty of governance and limited member involvement, the poor budget and project planning, and the lack of performance management. Members are also concerned that the Council may need additional resources focused on organisational change to deliver the scale envisaged by the Transformation Programme.

Council therefore agrees to establish a Task and Finish group of 7 members, to be politically proportionate, with the task of making recommendations to the July meeting of Full Council on options for the future delivery of the Transformation Programme, addressing issues of governance, budget and project planning, and performance management, to include the options and implications of ceasing any further activity under the current Transformation Programme.”

RESOLVED:

That the Motion be referred to the appropriate committee.

3        National Year of Reading

Proposed by Councillor S Corcoran and Seconded by Councillor G Smith

“This Council:

1.             Notes that the Government has designated 2026 as the National Year of Reading, supported by national partners and charities to encourage reading for pleasure.

2.             Recognises the benefits of reading for educational attainment, wellbeing and social inclusion.

3.             Welcomes and supports the National Year of Reading and its campaign objectives and commits to working with our partners including local libraries, schools, community groups, literacy organisations, and businesses to promote reading across our communities.

4.             Requests that the Leader, on behalf of the Council, completes the online Pledge stating actions the Council will take and encourages other council services to do the same.”

RESOLVED:

That the Motion be referred to the appropriate committee.

In accordance the Council Procedure Rules, opportunity is provided for Members of the Council to ask the Mayor or the Chair of a Committee any question about a matter which the Council, or the Committee has powers, duties or responsibilities.

At Council meeting, there will be a maximum question time period of 30 minutes. A period of two minutes will be allowed for each Councillor wishing to ask a question.  The Mayor will have the discretion to vary this requirement where they consider it appropriate.

The Deputy Mayor announced that Questions, due to time restraints, would be dealt with in writing and officers would circulate the responses to all Members.

To consider the report on the extension of the period of appointment of the Council’s Monitoring Officer.

Having previously declared an interest, Mr Kevin O’Keefe left the meeting during consideration of this item.

Consideration was given to the report which proposed extending the period of appointment of the Interim Director of Governance and Law, Monitoring Officer until the meeting of Council in October 2026.

RESOLVED:  That Council

1               extend the interim period of appointment of Mr Kevin O’Keefe as the Council’s Interim Director of Governance and Law, Monitoring Officer, with remuneration as set out in the Financial Implications section of this report, for a period until the October meeting of Full Council, or until the post otherwise becomes vacant; and

2               that as such Interim appointee, Mr O’Keefe shall have all of the powers of the Council’s Director of Governance and Law, Monitoring Officer under the Council’s Constitution, and the statutory powers of the Monitoring Officer under Section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.