Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

None.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 30 July 2013 as a correct record.

RESOLVED

That the minutes be approved as a correct record, subject to an amendment to minute 8, paragraph 2, to state that the switching off and dimming of certain street lights was to help the carbon reduction programme, as well as seeking to secure reductions in energy consumption.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relating to the work of the body in question.  Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

There were no members of the public present wishing to speak.

To receive a briefing on Town Centre Management Issues

Jez Goodman, Economic Development and Regeneration Manager, attended the meeting and introduced Diane Smith, who gave a short presentation in respect of her role as Town Centre Manager. She provided details of the service she provided including: -

• Provision of a continuity of service in relation to all aspects of town centre management.
• Working closely with the Cheshire East Council Regeneration Team.
• Co-ordinating relationships with and within Cheshire East Council for the benefit of the town and for the better delivery of services, including other public organisations and agencies.
• Working with the Charter Trustees on Civic Matters and with Councillors on routine issues and specific initiatives.
• Research and adaptation of good practice.
• Working with businesses, fostering links and developing good working relationships.
• Planning and managing of events.
• Promoting Macclesfield to residents and visitors.

She explained that, in the previous year, it had been decided that Town Centre management was a function which could be devolved to Town and Parish Councils, although they did have the option to use and pay for the services of the Town Centre Manger, if they so wished.  Bollington, Poynton, Wilmslow and Alderley Edge Town and Parish Councils had opted to do this and were charged a daily rate, based on the Town Centre Manager’s salary, plus 20%. The amount of the Town Centre Manager’s time spent on providing this service was dependent on demand. However, the majority of her time was spent on work relating to Macclesfield Town Centre.

Financial information relating to the Town Centre was also circulated.

Members of the Committee made comments and sought clarification on a number of issues relating to the Town Centre.

Agreed

1. That Diane Smith be thanked for her presentation and that its contents be noted.

2. Members of the Committee felt that it would be useful to receive details of officer roles and the management structure in respect of Economic Regeneration. The Economic Development and Regeneration Manager undertook to circulate details of the structure of the section, including names and telephone numbers, to the Committee Members.

To receive a presentation from Peter Hartwell, Head of Public Protection and Enforcement, in order for the Committee to consider the work needed to be undertaken to carry out a review of CCTV provision in the unparished area of Macclesfield.

At the previous meeting, the Committee had agreed to focus on a review of CCTV provision in the unparished area of Macclesfield as its first piece of in depth work. 

Peter Hartwell, Head of Public Protection and Enforcement, attended the meeting and introduced Martin Forshaw, CDRP Co-ordinator, Community Safety, who had come to the meeting to outline the reviews carried out in other towns and villages in the Borough and to get a view on the likely timescales and pressures in respect of the review of CCTV in the unparished area of Macclesfield.

Martin explained that Macclesfield had been the first town in Cheshire East to have CCTV and part of the review was to ascertain whether the existing cameras were fit for purpose, efficient and effective. There were a total of 30 cameras, which were concentrated within the town centre. A map showing their locations was circulated. The review would include an analysis of crime and disorder data on a camera by camera basis. It was proposed to set up a Working Group, involving the Police, the CCTV Manager and local elected Members and for the data analysis to form the initial basis for discussion and consideration.

 It was hoped that the involvement of local Members would help to feed local knowledge into the review and it was also suggested that the Committee may wish to visit the CCTV Room at Macclesfield Town Hall.

It was agreed that an e-mail should be sent to all Committee Members, asking whether they would like to sit on the Working group and/or be involved in the review and asking whether the Committee Members wished to visit the CCTV Room.

To determine the priority of the work areas identified in the Committee’s work plan.

A report was submitted in respect of the Committee Work Plan, to enable the Committee to determine which areas it wished to concentrate on. A number of suggested areas were outlined in the report and the Chairman requested that Members of the Committee submit any items that they wished to be included on the Work Plan for consideration at future meetings.

Agreed – The Senior Democratic Services Officer would e-mail all Members of the Committee, requesting that they submit any items they wished to be included on the Work Plan and to canvass on a date for the next meeting.