Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors L Anderson, P Coan, T Dean, R Fletcher, K Hauge, G Hayes, R Kain, A Kolker, C O’Leary, B Posnett, B Puddicombe, J Saunders, L Wardlaw, H Whitaker and F Wilson.

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.

The Interim Director of Law and Goverance (Monitoring Officer) declared that he would leave the meeting during consideration of Item 12 – Urgent Decisions, as this decision related to his appointment.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meetings of Council held on 16 July 2025 and 17 September 2025.

When proposing the Minutes for the 17 September 2025 meeting, the Leader referred to minute 39 resolution 8 and confirmed the new Cheshire East membership for the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee as follows:

Councillor Dawn Clark to be the voting member in respect of the business to be carried out in Part One of Appendix A (Subscriber Members), and Councillor Garnet Marshall to be the further voting member in respect of the business to be carried out in Part Two of Appendix A (Joint Committee Members).

The substitute members to be Councillor Marilyn Houston in respect of the business to be carried out in Part One of Appendix A (Subscriber Members), and Councillor Mick Warren in respect of the business to be carried out in Part Two of Appendix A (Joint Committee Members).

RESOLVED:   That

1               the minutes of the Council meeting held on 16 July 2025, and the Extraordinary meeting of Council held on 17 September 2025 be approved as a correct record.

2        the Cheshire East membership of the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee to be Councillors Dawn Clark and Garnet Marshall with substitutes Councillors Marilyn Houston and Mick Warren.

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.

Ms Lillian Burns spoke on behalf of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) about the Adlington New Town proposal. She stated that the New Towns Taskforce report described it as a standalone settlement, but it would not be as it would close the green belt gap between Poynton, Bollington, and Macclesfield. Ms Burns stated that there were already another 1,000 homes planned for the former Woodford Airfield site, in addition to numerous applications for proposed developments between Hazel Grove in Stockport and Poynton in Cheshire East. Ms Burns stated that CPRE supported the right kind of development in the right places, which included some of the new town recommendations located on brownfield sites. However, the Adlington proposal was the worst possible example of unsustainable urban sprawl into the countryside. It would reduce the food resilience of the area; be on parts of the rivers Bollin and Dane that were prone to flooding; and would impact on habitats and wildlife. There were also big questions of the water and sewage capacity, as well as a lack of sustainable transport and infrastructure. It was an unsustainable proposition that should not be supported.

Mr Simon Gleave, Chair of the Adlington Parish Council, referred to the proposals for the Adlington New Town and stated that there had only been silence from Cheshire East Council regarding its views on the proposals. He stated that the residents of North East Cheshire were waiting to hear the view of the principal authority on this hugely important issue, which would have far reaching effects on them. Mr Gleave respectfully asked that the Council engage in discussion of this matter.

In response to the speakers, Cllr M Gorman, Deputy Leader of the Council, stated that the recommendations of the independent New Towns Taskforce had been prepared independently and not proposed by Cheshire East Council.? The Council had no role in the proposals. The applicants had contacted the Council to make them aware, in confidence, of their applications. The Taskforce had met with officers in May 2025 to ask questions on locations, economic opportunities, and challenges. Subsequently, the Council wrote to the Taskforce supporting opportunities in principle for New Towns, but highlighting the major planning, delivery and infrastructure challenges as highlighted today by the public speakers. The Council had no role or influence – it was an independent review. Cllr Gorman stated that the Council awaited further information from the Government on the proposals, with an expectation that more information would be published in Spring 2026, which would then be presented at full Council for discussion and debate.

Mr Richard Slater stated that he had recently received a communication from Jones Homes regarding the proposed roundabout between Broken Cross and The Cock Inn, Macclesfield, and the full closure of A537. He stated that there was no entry on the One Network portal for these works, which raised concerns as to whether the statutory notice had been properly published, so these works must not proceed. He asked that the Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

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

The Leader, in summary:

1               reported that work continued on devolution with workshops and stakeholder sessions planned for November. Priorities for the Combined Authority would include transport, skills, rural economy, and regeneration, with a £10 million investment fund expected in year one. The first meeting of the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority Shadow Board would be held on 31 October 2025.

2               reported that the third Ofsted monitoring visit was currently under way, with the findings expected to be reported on 13 November.

3               stated that the Council was awaiting further information from the Government on the Adlington New Town proposals.

4               reported the appointment of Councillor Fiona Wilson as Member Champion for Councillor Safety and Councillor David Jefferay as Member Champion for Animal Welfare.

5               reported that the second round of consultation on the Local Transport Plan had commenced, which would close on 7 December 2025. He asked Members to promote participation in this consultation.

6               highlighted the recruitment campaign video for ‘Someone Like You.’

7               reported that a commemorative plaque had been unveiled at Sound Common, Nantwich, to honour the British Romanichal families who once called the site home.

8        encouraged staff and Members to get flu and COVID vaccinations.

The Deputy Leader, in summary:

1               reported that work was underway on the transition to the Leader and Cabinet system of governance, with recommendations being brought to the December full Council meeting and the possibility of an additional meeting of full Council next spring.

2               reported that the Annual Household Canvass had taken place and resulted in 325,000 electors registered.

3        reported that the Registration Service had been awarded “Best in the Northwest” for marriage ceremonies.

4               reported changes in the Democratic Services team, with Katie Small now coordinating Council meetings and Chris Lunn joining the team.

5               reported in relation to the Council’s finances that an overspend of £3.1 million had been identified with work being undertaken to reduce this ongoing, and the budget gap of £33 million being addressed. A Budget prioritisation survey had been launched with a strong initial response.

6               reported that two community assemblies were being planned in Macclesfield and Crewe with the aim to increase transparency and residents’ involvement in budget decisions.

7               reported that the Council supported a dedicated BBC News page for Cheshire and Warrington devolution.

8               reported that major repairs were being carried out to the Mill House Bridge in Adlington following damage caused by a flash flood. Work would commence on the B5470 Macclesfield Road in Rainow later in the month to repair the collapsed road with £1.6 million being invested in the embankment and road restoration.

9               reported that the Council had been awarded the Platinum Accreditation from the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance for work in tackling domestic abuse.

To consider the recommendations from the Finance Sub Committee.

Consideration was given to the recommendations from the Finance Sub Committee held on 10 September 2025 and the Corporate Policy Committee held on 2 October 2025 in relation to the approval of supplementary revenue estimates and supplementary capital estimates.

RESOLVED:  That Council

1               approve the Supplementary Revenue Estimate request for Allocation of Additional Grant Funding over £1,000,00 as set out in Annex 1, Section 3, Table 1 to the report, as follows:

2               approve the Supplementary Capital Estimate request for Allocation of Additional Grant Funding over £1,000,000 as per Annex 1, Section 4, updated Table 5 to the report, as follows:

To determine 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 May 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 receive the annual report of Audit and Governance Committee 2024-25.

Cllr Michael Beanland, Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee, presented the Audit and Governance Committee Annual Report 2024/25 to Council.

The report provided details of the work undertaken by the Committee and the assurances received during that year.

The Annual Report was received and noted.

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.

Historical Rural Signage

Proposed by Councillor R Chadwick and Seconded by Councillor R Bailey

That Council resolves:

1.             To acknowledge the historic importance of Cheshire East’s rural signage and commit to safeguarding this aspect of our cultural heritage.

2.             To request that the Highways and Transport Committee, in consultation with heritage and conservation officers, conduct an audit of surviving rural signage assets within the Borough.

3.             To explore opportunities to adopt a preservation and maintenance programme for historic signs, working alongside volunteer groups, heritage organisations, and parish councils.

4.             To ensure that, wherever possible, historic signage is restored, maintained in situ, or—if removal is unavoidable—recorded and, where appropriate, relocated to local museums or heritage centres.

5.             To promote greater public awareness of rural signage heritage, encouraging residents to report damaged or at-risk signs.

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.

Cllr M Brooks noted that Cheshire East was in the top 10 areas for the number of puppy breeding farms and stated that there were concerns nationally around the practice of some of those establishments. She asked whether the Council was confident that sufficient resources were allocated to ensure that licensing conditions were being robustly monitored and strictly enforced.

In response Cllr D Jefferay, Chair of Environment and Communities Committee, stated that Cllr Brooks was referring to a 2023 report and at that time the Council was reported as having 36 licensed dog breeding businesses. As of today, there were 26 licensed premises. Two larger sites had closed in the past two years, both as the result of business decisions. The Council’s enforcement action was underpinned by the corporate and service specific enforcement policies and the Animal Welfare Licensing Policy.

Cllr R Chadwick asked that given the mobile waste recycling centres serving Bollington, Poynton and Middlewich were currently providing only an emergency service, covering a combined population of around 39,000 residents, could the administration confirm what the long-term plan was for restoring full recycling provisions in those communities, and if they would commit to reinstating permanent, fully functional recycling centres, or should residents now assume that those temporary, arrangements were the new normal under the Council’s financial strategy.

In response Cllr D Jefferay, Chair of Environment and Communities Committee stated that a briefing was being arranged for members of the Environment and Communities Committee regarding the Mobile Household Waste Recycling Centre. The briefing would also be extended to all other Members who expressed an interest in attending.

Cllr S Bennett-Wake stated that residents from Bollington and Macclesfield and Crewe were delighted with the new Sunday bus service enabling them to meet with family and friends. She asked the Chair of Highways and Transport Committee if, with the power and finances that come with devolution, was it envisaged that there would be easier access for residents with disabilities and also could an Under 16 travel card, similar to the IGO card in Greater Manchester, be introduced. She stated that in Macclesfield it cost children more to travel to school than it did for adults who could buy a weekly £12 Silk town bus ticket.

Cllr M Goldsmith, Chair of Highways and Transport Committee, responded by stating that Mayoral combined authorities, otherwise known as strategic authorities, had various powers in relation to local transport, including bus services, fares, and ticketing across their region. Although, the three constituent authorities had agreed to set up a Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority, it was not anticipated to be established until 2026 and Mayoral Elections planned for 2027. It would be up to the Combined Authority itself to consider future bus services and ticketing as part of a strategic planning process and therefore, the Council was not able to determine at this stage, what future operations or ticketing regimes would be delivered through the combined authority, once established. 

Cllr M Beanland asked if the Council supported  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

To note the urgent decision taken by the Chief Executive on behalf of Council

Council received a schedule of urgent decisions taken by the Chief Executive on behalf of the Council, which was reported for information in accordance with the Council procedure rules.

RESOLVED:

That the schedule of urgent decisions be noted.