Agenda and minutes

To note any apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor P Coan.

Councillor L Wardlaw was present as a substitute.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 January 2026.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2026 be approved as a correct record.

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.

Mr M Bunte spoke in relation to Item 8 - Local Transport Plan. Mr Bunte expressed concern that the reference to “active travel pinch points” was inaccurate, with the view that a new pinch point would arise on Old Mill Road due to the proposed widening of the pedestrian refuge, negatively affecting cycling conditions.

Mr Bunte felt that road safety appeared only under the Wellbeing aim rather than as a standalone policy in the Local Transport Plan, noting the absence of specific targets. Mr Bunte highlighted that the Government’s Road Safety Strategy (published January 2026) included targets for a 65% reduction in people killed or seriously injured, and a 70% reduction for children under 16, by 2035. Mr Bunte asked whether the Local Transport Plan was flexible enough to incorporate the national targets locally.

Mr Bunte expressed concern that the Local Transport Plan referenced rural connectivity challenges but relied too heavily on improved bus services as the solution. Mr Bunte suggested that, in areas such as Sandbach and surrounding rural communities where distances between settlements were relatively short, cycling, and particularly the greater range offered by electric bicycles could have been given stronger emphasis as a viable transport option.

To consider the Notice of Motion – Traditional Direction Signs.

The committee received a report responding to the Notice of Motion regarding Traditional Direction Signs, which was submitted to Full Council on 15 October 2025 by Councillor R Chadwick and seconded by Councillor R Bailey.

The Notice of Motion requested measures to retaining older-style, rural directional signage as part of retaining the character of rural areas.

The council’s approach to this signage focused on its statutory duties to maintain highway infrastructure in a safe condition. The report proposed an approach to addressing this without creating additional costs for the council.

Officers reported that:

• Highways services were largely statutory, with priority given to safety and availability of the highway network.
• There was no statutory duty to maintain traditional or heritage signs and no existing budget to audit or maintain such assets.
• Maintenance activity was prioritised using a risk?based approach due to significant financial constraints.
• A county?wide audit could cost in excess of £60,000, with ongoing maintenance and replacement costs also significant.
• Replacement of heritage signs was specialist work and therefore costly.
• While the cultural and local value of heritage signs was recognised, maintaining them would divert resources from core highways activity.

The Committee received a written statement from Councillor Bailey as seconder to the Notice of Motion. Councillor Bailey noted the financial pressures facing the Council but expressed concern that the officer response did not reflect the Council’s Corporate Plan 2025–2029, the rural proofing policy, or the Council’s general approach to the preservation of historic artefacts. Councillor Bailey highlighted the value of local heritage in contributing to a sense of place.

Councillor Bailey requested that the committee consider options for the transfer of historic signs to town and parish councils or community groups, explore ways to work proactively with such organisations to enable repair and retention of the signs, and give future consideration to the provision of financial support. Councillor Bailey also drew attention to the contrast between the Council’s ability to showcase historic items through the archive service and its current position on retaining historic direction signs.

Members asked questions relating to:

• The costs associated with auditing, repainting and replacing signs.
• The use of ward member budgets for refurbishment, which officers confirmed could be accommodated.
• Whether town and parish councils could carry out local audits.
• Potential heritage or local listing through the planning system.
• Health and safety and liability implications if third parties undertook works.
• The application of risk?based prioritisation to signage maintenance.

Officers reiterated the need to ensure all highway works complied with safety standards and confirmed a willingness to work with town and parish councils to explore feasible solutions.

During the debate, Members highlighted:

• The longevity and durability of traditional cast?iron signs compared with modern signage.
• Concerns about the removal of modern signs in rural areas without replacement.
• The importance of traditional signage to local character, countryside identity and civic pride.
• The potential long?term value of preventative maintenance.

A friendly amendment was proposed by Councillor R Chadwick which sought to introduce measures around  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

To consider the report on the Third Financial Review of 2025-26.

The committee considered a report on the Third Financial Review (FR3) for 2025/26, based on financial information as at the end of November 2025. The report formed part of the Council’s annual financial monitoring cycle and had previously been reported to the Finance Sub-Committee on 30 January 2026.

The committee was advised that:

• The overall Council revenue position was forecasting a balanced outturn at 31 March 2026, representing an improvement of £2.3m since FR2.
• The Place Directorate was forecasting an underspend of £7.4m, an improvement of £1.9m since FR2.
• The budget areas within the remit of the Committee were forecasting an underspend of approximately £0.9m, an improvement of £0.9m since FR2.
• A further financial review (FR4) had been undertaken and improvements to the 2025/26 forecasts were anticipated.

Members noted that a significant element of the underspend was attributable to timing delays rather than service reductions, particularly a forecast £1m underspend relating to supported bus and demand-responsive transport, due to procurement and implementation delays.

The committee considered updates to the capital programme, including variations since budget approval and proposals for supplementary capital estimates. Officers reported that Table 7 in the report sought approval for an increase in the capital programme for Nantwich Town Centre Public Realm Improvements.

Officers committed to providing a written response detailing the timescales for the Nantwich Town Centre Public Realm Improvements programme, and detail around the initial project scoping work being undertaken to understand the scale, complexity, and resourcing needs associated with advertising income.

Members also considered information on earmarked reserves, capital scheme delivery timescales, Section 106 funding arrangements, and the meaning of projects described as “mothballed”, which officers confirmed referred to schemes temporarily paused pending identification of further funding.

During discussion, members raised questions regarding:

• The treatment of underspends within the Council’s overall financial position.
• Parking income forecasts and implementation of staff and member parking charges.
• Bus service delivery, FlexiLink staffing, and procurement timescales.
• Public perceptions of underspend in relation to highway condition and maintenance.

Officers confirmed that:

• Forecast underspends contributed to the corporate MTFS and could not be retained by individual committees.
• Financial monitoring reports reflected a snapshot in time, with figures subject to change later in the year.
• “Mothballed” projects may proceed if additional funding is secured.

RESOLVED: (By Majority)

That the Highways and Transport Committee

1. Note the overall Council’s Financial position as described within the Executive Summary – Council Financial Position.

2. scrutinised the latest revenue forecast for Highways and Transport Directorate, reviewed progress on the delivery of the MTFS approved budget policy change items (Table 3), the RAG ratings and understood the actions to be taken to address any adverse variances from the approved budget.

3. Note the overall in-year forecast capital spending for Highways and Transport Directorate of £66.999m against a revised MTFS budget of £66.626m in Tables 4 and 5 of the report.

4. Note the Delegated Decisions made for Supplementary Capital estimates up to £500,000 as per Table 6 of the report.

5. Approve the Supplementary Capital Estimate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

To consider a report on the operation of the Ward Member Budget Scheme (WMBS) and to determine how schemes are identified to ensure the scheme funds are used by 31 March 2027 to improve the highway asset in line with statutory duties.

Councillors M Muldoon and M Sewart left the meeting during consideration of this item and did not return.

The committee considered a report providing an update on the operation of the Ward Member Budget Scheme and seeking approval of a proposed approach to ensure that remaining funding is utilised within the final year of the scheme.

The committee noted that the scheme was introduced in 2023/24 as a four?year programme funded through the Local Transport Plan capital allocation, with the annual allocation per ward member remaining at £4,512. At the time of reporting, approximately 46% of the overall budget remained unallocated. Officers outlined a number of factors contributing to the underspend, including proposals falling outside agreed categories, insufficient funding for some schemes, delays in scheme development, and communication challenges between members and officers.

The report proposed that ward members finalise proposed schemes with Senior Highway Officers by 1 May 2026. Where no suitable schemes were agreed by that date, remaining funds would be pooled and allocated to highway asset priorities, with works identified and communicated to ward members by 1 June 2026, in order to ensure delivery by the end of the financial year and compliance with the Council’s statutory duties as highway authority.

Visiting Members Councillors L Buchanan and M Brooks, and members of the Committee raised concerns regarding delays in progressing schemes, changes to previously agreed proposals, capacity and staffing issues within the highways service, and inconsistent communication.

Members emphasised that delays were often outside the control of ward members and sought assurances that unspent budgets would continue to benefit the relevant ward, rather than being applied elsewhere in the Borough.

In response, officers acknowledged the frustrations expressed and confirmed that:

• enhanced communication and engagement arrangements would be implemented, including workshops and direct engagement with Senior Highway Officers;
• efforts would be made to ensure that expenditure continued to benefit the ward where agreement was not reached on the allocation of funds in line with the WMBS case studies by 1 May 2026;
• members would not be penalised where agreement, in line with the WMBS case study options, had not been reached through no fault of their own i.e. delayed communications from officers; and
• any funds remaining unspent at the end of the scheme on 31 March 2027) will be made available to the council to reduce its borrowing requirement for the Highways service where expenditure meets the conditions of the Local Transport Grant.

Members also discussed future arrangements beyond the current four?year scheme, noting that any continuation would be subject to future decisions and funding availability, and would have to be considered and approved by the new Combined Authority.

RESOLVED (By Majority)

That the Highways and Transport committee

1. Note the progress made to date on the operation of the Ward Member Budget Scheme.
2. Agree the recommended approach for finalising member proposals and allocating remaining scheme funding, as set out in the report.
3. Agree to delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Environment, in consultation with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

To consider a report on the new Local Transport Plan (LTP) for Cheshire East and approval of the final LTP strategy and investment framework.

Consideration was given to the report seeking approval of the Local Transport Plan (LTP), which set out the Council’s statutory transport policies and strategies and replaced the previous plan which had expired.

The committee was advised that the LTP was the Council’s overarching transport strategy and had been developed over a period of nearly two years. The Plan was informed by updated evidence and two rounds of stakeholder and public consultation, and was supported by an accompanying Investment Strategy, consultation outcomes report, Equalities Impact Assessment and Environmental Assessment.

It was reported that the LTP established six high-level policy objectives. Three related to outcomes: economic growth; health and wellbeing (including road safety); and environmental sustainability. The remaining three related to delivery, namely a place-based approach to transport solutions, a transport user hierarchy (prioritising walking, cycling and public transport), and a “manage, maintain and improve” approach to investment. The Plan and Investment Strategy were intended to be enabling documents to guide decision-making over the plan period.

Members asked questions and commented on:

• The inclusion of road safety within the LTP and the potential development of a separate casualty reduction or road safety strategy.
• How the LTP would align with and inform the future work of the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority, which would assume responsibility for producing a Local Transport Plan from 2027.
• Monitoring arrangements and value-for-money assessments for cycling infrastructure, particularly where schemes were funded through Active Travel England.
• Rural transport provision, including the challenges of connectivity in rural areas, the role of flexible bus services, and safety and accessibility considerations.
• Funding used to support preparation of the LTP.

In response, officers confirmed that:

• Road safety was embedded within the LTP’s health and wellbeing objectives, with performance indicators reported annually, and that a more detailed casualty reduction strategy would be developed as a supporting document.
• Adoption of the LTP placed the Council in a strong position ahead of the formation of the Combined Authority and would support future transport funding bids.
• Cycling schemes were subject to appraisal and post-implementation monitoring by Active Travel England, with usage data influencing future grant allocations.
• Rural connectivity was a key theme within the LTP, recognising the limitations of commercially viable rural transport and the role of flexible services.
• A government revenue grant of £380,000 had been provided to resource preparation of the Local Transport Plan.

RESOLVED: (By Majority)

That the Highways and Transport committee

1. Approve the Local Transport Plan (LTP) strategy (Appendix 2 of the report) and investment framework (Appendix 3 of the report) as a framework to prioritise transport investment in Cheshire East and support the transition to a Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority.

2. Recommend to Full Council that the LTP be formally adopted as a corporate policy document of the Council to inform and influence wider Council investment programmes, including those relating to spatial planning, public health, regeneration, carbon reduction and environmental sustainability.

To consider a report on Local Transport Delivery Plan - Consolidated Funding.

The committee considered a report on the Local Transport Delivery Plan, arising from changes introduced by the Department for Transport (DfT) to the funding of local transport investment.

The new arrangements consolidated a number of existing transport funding streams into a single Consolidated Transport Fund, covering both revenue and capital funding. Members were advised that the funding settlement provided greater certainty through multi?year allocations (three years for revenue and four years for capital), supporting improved forward planning. It was noted that, if an elected Mayor were appointed, responsibility for the fund would transfer to the Combined Authority as the accountable body.

The committee was informed that the DfT required submission of a draft LocalTransport Delivery Plan by 20 March, with primary focus on the 2026/27 financial year. A summary of Cheshire East Council’s proposed funding profile was appended to the report. The draft plan maintained existing funding balances across transport themes, including highways maintenance, public transport, active travel and local transport grant.

Members noted that the proposed approach would enable the development and delivery of larger and longer?term transport schemes. The plan identified the Middlewich Eastern Bypass as a priority scheme in the first year, supported by its readiness for delivery, with other potential schemes identified for future years, subject to further design, consultation and engagement.

In response to questions, officers confirmed that the next stage submission of the four?year programme, due in September, would follow the Council’s established governance processes before being submitted to the Combined Authority.

The committee also received responses to questions regarding the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) programme, including confirmation of the appointment of a delivery partner for on?street and car park charging infrastructure, and progress towards a pilot scheme for cross?pavement charging

RESOLVED: (By Majority)

That the Highways and Transport committee

1.Authorise the Executive Director of Resources and the Section 151 officer to

a) Accept the Integrated Transport Settlement and Local Bus Fund allocations to Cheshire East Council.

b) Sign and return any Grant Acceptance Letter and/or Memorandum of Understanding for these grants by the necessary deadlines.

2. Recommend approval of Supplementary Capital and Revenue Expenditure estimates for these grants to Full Council.

3. Endorse the draft local transport delivery programme, as summarised in Appendix 4 of the report.

4. Note that the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Section 151 officer, authorised the submission of the draft transport programme for 2026/27 to 2029/30 to the Department for Transport, to meet the DfT’s deadline of 20th March 2026, to secure transport funding allocations for 2026/27.

5. Note that further discussions and agreements will be required with the Cheshire & Warrington Combined Authority before a final version of the Local Transport Delivery Plan is submitted to the DfT by September 2026.

6. Agree to delegate authority for commissioning of bus services using Local Bus Grant and external funding to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

To consider a report on the DMMO Investigation MA-5-254 - For the addition of a circular footpath linking footpath 43 Wilmslow to footpath 44 Alderley Edge in the Parish of Wilmslow.

The committee considered a report which outlined the investigation into a an application made in May 2018 for an order to add a circular footpath to the DM linking Footpath 43 Wilmslow to Footpath 44 Alderley Edge as shown between A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-A on Plan WCA/057 (“the Plan”) at Appendix 1 to the report.

It was noted that 19 user evidence forms were submitted, covering public use between 1967 and 2018, with the relevant statutory 20?year period being 1998–2018.

The evidence demonstrated sufficient uninterrupted public use on foot to support the existence of public rights over:

• Route 1 (A–B–C–D–E–F–H–A)
• Route 4 (F–I)

For Route 2 (J–K–L–C) and Route 3 (B–E), the evidence was insufficient, reflecting only occasional or sporadic use, not meeting the statutory test.

Historical and documentary sources (including 19th?century maps and Definitive Map records) were reviewed but were not conclusive. Aerial imagery supported bridge and access points related to Routes 1 and 4.

Consultation was carried out with:

• Alderley Edge Community Council
• Wilmslow Town Council
• Local landowners and tenants
• User groups, including the Peaks & Northern Footpaths Society and the Open Spaces Society

The committee noted:

• Peaks & Northern Footpaths Society supported the proposed addition.
• Open Spaces Society objected to the proposal.
• Landowner and tenant objections included reports of challenging users and installing obstructions.

Officers advised that, despite these actions, no sufficient evidence was presented showing a clear intention not to dedicate the routes.

RESOLVED:-(Unanimously)

That the Highways and Transport committee:

1. Approve a Definitive Map Modification Order under Section 53(2)(b) on the basis of evidence under Section 53(3)(c)(i) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, for route 1 (A-B-C-D-E-F-H-A) and route 4 (F-I) on the Plan.
2. Agree that the application be refused in respect of Route 2 and Route 3, due to insufficient user evidence.
3. Approve that public notice of the making of the Order be given and in the event of there being no objections within the period specified, that the Order be confirmed in the exercise of the powers conferred on the Council by the said Act.

To consider a report on the proposed diversion of footpaths Haslington FP22 (part) and FP38 (part).

The committee considered a report which outlined the investigation to divert part of Public Footpath No. 22 Haslington (“FP22”) and part of Public Footpath 38 Haslington (“FP38”) in the interests of the public and the landowner.

The committee noted that the proposed new routes would provide a suitable alternative alignment, with improvements including a surfaced track and the replacement of a stile with a kissing gate to enhance accessibility. The diversion was assessed as being no less convenient for the public and consistent with the Rights of Way Improvement Plan and the Council’s wider policy objectives.

Consultation responses were received from user groups and statutory undertakers. The Peak & Northern Footpaths Society expressed support for the proposal with suggested refinements, while the Open Spaces Society submitted an objection on the grounds of perceived inconvenience. No objections were received from Cadent Gas or the Ward Member.

Having considered the statutory tests under Section 119, the Committee agreed that it was expedient to divert the footpaths in the interests of the landowner and the public. An assessment under the Equality Act 2010 concluded there would be no adverse impact on users, and the installation of the kissing gate would improve access.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the Highways and Transport committee:

1.    Approve the making of a Public Path Diversion Order under Section 119 of the Highways Act 1980 for the diversion of parts of Footpaths Haslington FP22 and FP38, as illustrated on the plan appended to the report.

2.    Approve that public notice of the making of the Order be given, and that, in the event no objections are received within the statutory notice period, the Order be confirmed in the exercise of the powers conferred on the Council by the said Acts.

3.    note that should any objections be received, Cheshire East Borough Council will be responsible for the conduct of any hearing or Public Inquiry relating to the Order.

To consider a report on the proposed diversion of public footpath No. 7 (Part) in the Parish Hulme Walfield.

The committee considered a report which outlined the investigation into a proposal to divert part of Public Footpath No.7 in the Parish of Hulme Walfield (“Hulme Walfield FP7”) under section 257 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 following receipt of an application from Castle Green Homes Ltd.

Members were advised that the existing route of the footpath (A–B–C) would be directly obstructed by two permitted dwelling plots and their associated garden areas. A new route (A–D–E–C), 3 metres wide and surfaced in resin?bound gravel with appropriate paving at estate road crossings, was proposed through public open space to maintain public access. Land required for the diversion was owned by Torus62 Ltd (social housing provider), who had provided written agreement.

Statutory consultation had been undertaken with the ward member, the Parish Council, user groups, statutory undertakers and the Council’s Nature Conservation Officer. Four responses were received and no objections were raised.

Officers reported that the diversion was necessary to enable the approved development to proceed and that the proposed alternative route was not substantially less convenient to the public. An assessment under the Equality Act 2010 confirmed no adverse accessibility impacts.

All diversion and construction costs would be met by the developer, with future maintenance of the new surface to be undertaken by the site’s management company.

RESOLVED: (By Majority)

That the Highways and Transport committee

1. Approve that a Public Path Order is made under Section 257 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to divert part of Public Footpath No.7 in the Parish of Hulme Walfield, as illustrated on Plan No. TCPA/085 on the grounds that the Council is satisfied that it is necessary to do so to allow development to take place.

2. Approve that Public Notice of the making of the Order be given and in the event of no objections within the statutory notice period, the Order be confirmed in the exercise of the powers conferred on the Council by the said Act.

3. Note that in the event of objections to the Order being received and not resolved, Cheshire East Borough Council will be responsible for the conduct of any hearing or Public Inquiry relating to the Order.