Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Nick Mannion.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interests from Members.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous virtual meeting held on 5 December 2025.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous virtual meeting held on 5 December 2025 be approved as a correct record.

To receive an update from Everybody Health and Leisure.

The Board received an update from Thomas Barton and Richard Jones from Everybody Health and Leisure on how they and the Board could work together to improve access to sports for young people in Crewe.

The Board was updated that the Everybody Health and Leisure charity was set up in 2014 and was closely aligned with Cheshire East Council. Everybody Health and Leisure comprised the Everybody Academy, Everybody Foundation, OneYou Cheshire East, Taste For Life and Everybody Swim.

It was noted that there were several Everybody Health and Leisure facilities across Cheshire East, covering swimming pools, gyms, running tracks and spa facilities, with a number of these centred around Crewe:

-       18 facilities

-       9 swimming pools

-       3 park cafes

-       Over 27,000 members

-       Working with 110 schools to provide over 10,000 swimming lessons

-       Working with 119 schools via Bikeability

-       Over 100 active volunteers

It was noted that the overarching vision and aim for Everybody Health and Leisure was to provide “leisure for life” to help people to live well for longer.

The Board were updated that Everybody Health and Leisure were involved in the “Build. Move. Thrive” project, supported by Sport England and Active Cheshire, across Cheshire and Warrington, with the aim of changing behaviours to drive investment and positive activity in areas of severe health inequality, such as Crewe. The project has focussed on three “hyper local areas” of Warrington Central, Ellesmere Port and Coppenhall, Crewe.  

The Board were updated that Everybody Health and Leisure were involved in a pilot scheme called “Eat Well, Move More” at Coppenhall School which engaged with primary school children and teachers to encourage students to become more physically active. Discussions were also underway regarding a Bicycle Library.

Board members raised concern regarding the health inequality rates across Crewe, and sought to ensure that Everybody Health and Leisure, and other bodies, were focussed on resolving the issues and provided better access to health facilities for the highest the priority areas.

It was noted that several of the Board projects within Crewe, particularly the Pocket Parks, Mill Street Corridor and Valley Brook, would provide a platform for Everybody Health and Leisure to engage with small, local communities and community groups, in need of further support. It was noted that the new Leighton Hospital development would help to promote a community-based health provision within Crewe.

It was noted that Sport England had not engaged fully with Cheshire East to discuss where their efforts could be focussed, which may have caused a different in the views on the deprivation levels across Crewe.

It was noted that Everybody Health and Leisure, and other stakeholders, could prepare fully costed and finished funding bids, and seek opportunities from central government for further developments to the athletics club and Cumberland Arena to further benefit the facilities.

RESOLVED:

That the updates be noted.

To receive an update on the Towns Fund projects.

The Board received an update on several of the Towns Fund Projects and programme Management updates from Jez Goodman, Development and Regeneration Manager, and individual project sponsors.

*Royal Arcade Phase 2 “Meanwhile Use” – The contractor had mobilised on site and planning consent was in place. The groundworks were due to start imminently, beginning with below ground ducts and drainage. The project was targeting completion of the hardstanding areas, paths, seating and play equipment by 31 March 2026.

*Project funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The Board were reminded that the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) had given more flexibility for local decisions around revising Key Performance Indicators for projects, and the reallocation of funds between projects – Project Adjustment Requests no longer needed to be approved by government, providing that they still represented value for money. It was noted that the deadline for spending the Towns Fund Grant had now been extended to 31 March 2028.

It was noted that the Valley Brook Corridor project had previously indicated that, due to rescoping, it would be able to release around £1.25 million of Towns Fund Grant which could be used on other existing projects. The project leads for the other projects had been invited to submit proposal to the Board to bid for any of the reallocated funds. Responses had been received from six projects, with multiple options for the funds presented which were reviewed by the Board and recommendations made, based on considerations including necessity, impact, benefit, value for money, deliverability, and how the proposal would fit with the original business case for the project.

RESOLVED:

That the Crewe Town Board:

Approve the following reallocation of funds, subject to approvals from the Council’s S151 Officer and relevant committee:

·         Cumberland Arena - £519,000

·         Warm and Healthy Homes - £207,000

·         Repurposing our High Streets - £20,000

·         Youthzone: The Dome - £280,000

·         Youthzone: Crewe Youth Club - £38,000

·         Reserves to be allocated at a future date - £186,000

That the updates be noted.

To receive a Strategic Update from Cheshire East Council.

The Board received a Strategic Update from Cheshire East Council:

·         Senior Management – Phil Cresswell, Executive Director of Place, had left the authority in early December 2025, and the role was being covered temporarily by the Director of Growth and Enterprise.

·         Finance –The Council’s financial position for FY 2025 / 2026 would be presented to Finance Sub-Committee on 30 January 2026.

·         Council Governance – The Council would be moving to a Cabinet System form of governance in May 2026.

·         Cheshire East Local Plan – A further call for development sites would be held within the next 2 – 3 months.

RESOLVED:

That the updates be noted.

To receive an update on devolution in Cheshire and Warrington.

The Board received an update on devolution in Cheshire and Warrington.

It was noted that the next Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority Shadow Authority Board would take place on 30 January 2026 in Crewe. The Board was currently going through the process of recruitment for its senior positions, with the Chief Executive Officer likely to be announced shortly.

RESOLVED:

That the updates be noted.

To note any other items of business.

There was no AOB.

To confirm the date of the next meeting as 06.02.2026 commencing at 09:30am

That the date of the next meeting be confirmed as 06.02.2026 commencing at 09:30am.