Agenda and minutes

To note any apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies were received from Councillors D Clark and H Moss. Councillors J Place and S Adams were present as substitutes.

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 interests of openness and transparency, the following declarations of interests were made:

In relation to item 5 (Strategic Leisure Review), Councillor A Kolker declared that he was a Trustee and Board Chair of Everybody Health and Leisure, however he did not consider his interest to be prejudicial.

In relation to Item 5 (Strategic Leisure Review), Councillor M Brooks declared, in the interests of openness and transparency, that she held a membership with Everybody Health and Leisure.

In relation to Item 5 (Strategic Leisure Review), Councillor H Whittaker declared, in the interests of openness and transparency, that she held a  membership with Everybody Health and Leisure. It was also noted that she had previous involvement in campaigns relating to Household Waste Recycling Centres (Item 6) but did not consider her interest  to be prejudicial.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 November 2025.

The Chair advised that the proposed overview of the directorate would not be considered by the Committee and would instead be considered by the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee post May 2026.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2025 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

In accordance with paragraph 2.24 of the Council’s Committee Procedure Rules and Appendix on Public Speaking, set out in the Constitution, a total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to put questions to the committee on any matter relating to this agenda. Each member of the public will be allowed up to two minutes each to speak, and the Chair will have discretion to vary this 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.

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.

Councillor R Douglas addressed the committee in relation to agenda item 6 (HWRC booking system changes).  Councillor Douglas stated that both councillors and residents should be informed of further key information such as the number of days per week that the booking system would be introduced for. Councillor Douglas asked what impact the proposed recommendations would have in respect of recycling and fly-tipping levels, stating that this could be discriminatory against those unable to access online systems. Finally, Councillor Douglas suggested that the decision be deferred until such a time that further clarification was provided on the proposals and their impact, and further consideration being given to extending opening hours across all sites.

In response, officers confirmed that the report sought delegated authority to allow flexibility in amending the booking system and that no options had been ruled out. It was advised that alternative arrangements, including onsite queue management, would be considered alongside other potential solutions. It was confirmed that further options would be trialled in consultation with Members.

Ms T Blueman addressed the committee in relation to agenda Item 6 (HWRC booking system changes).  Ms Blueman set out the impact of recent boundary changes and HWRC closures on local communities and issues experienced with missed household waste collections. Ms Blueman shared her concerns with the booking system and accessibility for some residents. Recent HWRC closures had increased pressure at the Macclesfield HWRC site, and that any further barriers could results in increased fly-tipping. In summary, Ms Blueman felt that the full-time booking system was not inclusive or equitable.

Mr M Winder addressed the committee in relation to agenda Item 6 (HWRC booking system changes).   Mr Winder stated that he had observed ongoing issues at the Macclesfield HWRC, including long queues, access difficulties, and general pressure on the site. Mr Winder asked whether the council had modelled current and future demand at the site, particularly following the closure of nearby sites, and whether this information could be made public. Mr Winder suggested that changes to booking or queuing systems would only be effective if underlying capacity matched demand and that, without addressing capacity, residents might continue to experience problems regardless of how access was managed.

Ms D Jamison addressed the committee in relation to agenda item 5 (Strategic Leisure Review). Ms Jamison stated her longstanding involvement in leisure services and neighbourhood planning. Ms Jamison stated that the review failed to adequately address the role of property services and the contract in relation to maintenance, project delivery, and cost overruns, particularly in relation to changing room projects. Ms Jamison requested that this issue be referred for further consideration.  Ms Jamison sought clarification on the recommissioning process, urging Members not to delegate the decision on the Holmes Chapel closure to officers, stating that alternative arrangements sould be explored. Ms Jamison encouraged Members to scrutinise and challenge the report and delegations robustly, in line with recommendations made through the LGA Peer Review.

In response, officers acknowledged the issues raised regarding property and project  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

To consider a report in relation to the implementation of the initiatives brought forward under the Strategic Leisure Review.

The committee considered the report in relation to the implementation of the initiatives brought forward under the Strategic Leisure Review. The committee noted the progress made, including delivery of elements of the capital programme. The committee were advised that due to changes in procurement legislation introduced in 2025, the council would be required to recommission the leisure contract prior to its expiry in 2029.

The committee debated the appropriateness of delegating authority without clearly setting out the available options, providing a detailed financial appraisal of those options. It was noted that, given the council’s current financial position, such analysis was particularly important. The committee debated whether a decision in relation to  the future of the Holmes Chapel Leisure Centre was needed, however the majority of Members were of the view that the decision making should not be delayed due to financial pressures facing both the council and the leisure operator.

It was clarified that the disposal of Holmes Chapel Leisure Centre was one of several options being explored. Officers were working with the school, Everybody Health and Leisure, the Town Council, and other key stakeholders to explore alternatives that would enable the facility to remain open. It was clarified that the proposed delegation would allow officers to proceed with disposal inline with the previously agreed policy direction should the options being considered not be viable. 

RESOLVED (by majority):

That the Environment and Communities Committee

1. Note the progress relating to the implementation of the Strategic Leisure Review.

2. Delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Environment to make any decisions regarding the future of Holmes Chapel.

To consider a report on the proposed changes to the Household Waste Recycling Centre Booking System.

The committee considered a report on the proposed changes to the Household Waste Recycling Centre Booking System.  The committee were advised on the need for flexibility in managing the booking system, particularly where congestion and safety issues had arisen. It was noted that  any changes would not reduce the overall capacity of the service to meet demand.

The committee noted that a range of options were being considered on a site-by-site basis, including extending or removing booking requirements at certain times, adjusting queue management arrangements, and trialling alternative approaches, particularly at Macclesfield site.

The committee were updated on the extensive modelling that had informed the original decisions and noted that a further assessment would take place once the full mobile Household Waste Recycling Centre service was operational. It was clarified that the mobile Household Waste Recycling Centre was intended to improve access in rural areas and areas with lower car ownership, and that these would be integrated into the existing booking system.

The committee noted that liaison with highways continued, and that extending booking arrival windows was an option under consideration. It was also confirmed that the booking system could, if necessary, be removed altogether at certain sites as part of the site-by-site assessment of options.

The committee highlighted ongoing fly tipping issues and stressed the importance of ensuring that any changes to the booking system did not inadvertently increase illegal waste disposal. The committee noted that fly tipping was being addressed through partnership working with enforcement teams and external agencies, and that overall incidents had reduced, although localised issues remained.

An amendment was proposed, seconded, and subsequently accepted as a friendly amendment as set out below:

1. Delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Environment to make alterations to the HWRC booking system to account for health and safety and traffic congestion issues at HWRC ‘in consultation with Chair, Vice Chair and Opposition Spokesman of Committee’.

RESOLVED (by majority):

That the Environment and Communities Committee

1. Delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Environment to make alterations to the HWRC booking system to account for health and safety and traffic congestion issues at HWRCs in consultation with Chair, Vice Chair and Opposition Spokesman of Committee.

To consider the Work Programme and determine any required amendments.

The committee considered the Work Programme, the following was noted:

-          Tree risk strategy – to be added to the Work Programme for consideration at the March 2026 meeting

Members requested greater scrutiny and transparency in relation to:

• The Peak Cluster pipeline project.
• Adlington New Town proposals.

Officers advised that there were no formal decisions required by the committee in relation to Adlington New Town currently, and that Member briefings would be appropriate at this stage. It was agreed that further discussions would take place to clarify the most appropriate mechanism for Member engagement.

It was requested that a briefing be arranged for the committee on food waste collections and aspects of the Local Plan.

RESOLVED:

That the Work Programme be received and noted.