Decisions

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announced in November 2025 the fourth round of the Local Authority Housing Fund and the Council made an application on 19 December 2025.

The MHCLG advised local authorities that they had been allocated an indicative level of capital funding which had been established on a formula based on need.  Cheshire East Council was notified that it had provisionally been identified as eligible for grant funding (under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003) was an indicative total allocation of £559,734.  The total allocation comprises a capital grant of £554,400 and a revenue grant of £5,334.   The grant offer had to be accepted by 5 pm on 10 April 2026.

Acting under urgency powers and following consultation with legal and finance officers, the Chair of Finance Sub Committee and the Chair of Economy and Growth Committee, the Executive Director Children’s Services with delegated powers as Chief Executive has taken the decision to agree: -

a        that the Director of Growth and Enterprise and Section 151/Deputy be authorised to enter the Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to accept the grant allocation by close of business on 10 April 2026 and to take all other necessary measures, including the full administration and distribution of the grant.

b        that a supplementary estimate be agreed of up to £559,734 for the financial year 2026/2027 – 2029/2030, subject to further approval via the Council’s outturn report, in due course.

c         to authorise the Director of Growth and Enterprise to enter into an appropriate legal agreement with the relevant Registered Housing Providers in order to deliver the requirements and objectives of the scheme.

The committee considered a report on the amendment to recommendation 4 of the ‘Renewing the Sufficiency Strategy and Expanding Specialist Provision in Cheshire East – Options Paper’ report that was approved at the Children and Families Committee meeting on 19 January 2026.

Councillor Ken Edwards attended the meeting as a Visiting Member and spoke on this item. Councillor Edwards stated that it was vital that Cheshire East Council were confident that there was an organisation in Cheshire East which would be able to take on the responsibility of the school site. Councillor Edwards requested that delay in the process should be avoided at all costs and hoped that a partnership model could be developed based on the existing experience within Cheshire East.

Members were updated that the Council had been engaged in further conversations with the Department for Education and were now able to open up the potential school site to all providers. It was noted that to date, no proposals had been submitted and nothing had gone out to tender, and the Council had sought advice that the methodology was legally compliant, so the change in proposal would not open the Council up to a judicial review.

It was noted that regardless of the provider, the opening date of the school would be September 2028. It was noted that engaging with an existing provider would bring the benefits of better workforce planning, staff recruitment, existing links with the local education and parent community, and that existing schools within Cheshire East already have “Good” Ofsted ratings.

It was noted that the additional capacity within Cheshire East may provide an opportunity for children to move school to one which was better suited to them, and closer to their home.

RESOLVED (by Majority):

That the Children and Families Committee:

1. Approve the amendment to recommendation 4 that was approved at the Children and Families Committee meeting held on 19 January 2026: -

i) To pursue expressions of interest from existing state funded SEN schools in Cheshire East to open a satellite at Westfields site, which will be an expansion of their existing school.

2. Agree that if no suitable proposal is submitted, Committee approve that the service continues with the original approval as agreed at the Children and Families Committee meeting held on 19 January 2026, agenda item 7, resolution 4, as follows:

ii) To progress with undertaking the free school presumption process to identify and obtain agreement for a new school sponsor under section 6A of the Education and Inspections Act 2006. This will include undertaking a consultation with the local community, schools, councillors, town council and local MP. This is not the formal statutory consultation which sponsors are required to undertake.

3. Agree that all expressions of interest submitted will be fully assessed to ensure they meet the necessary criteria for a satellite school and a further report with recommendations will be brought back to Cabinet for approval, prior to initiating the statutory consultation.

The committee considered a report regarding the Edge of Care Offer for Children and Young People in Cheshire East.

Members were updated that to date, despite extensive efforts, Cheshire East Council did not have a dedicated, timely and effective Edge of Care offer, which would offer families stability. The Council wished to pilot an approach which would offer Functional Family Therapy for families of children aged 0 – 9 and multisystemic therapy for families of children aged 10 to 17, who were on the verge of going in to care, to keep them at home, and to keep them safe.

It was noted that for the first year, the financial benefit would be cost avoidance, but beyond that, if the pilot were to continue, there would be a return on the investment.

It was noted that the funding for the pilot would come from the Children’s Improvement and Transformation Fund and officers were confident that the one year investment would pay itself back by showing success and through cost avoidance, with reviews at the three and six month points. It was noted that a further business case would be developed to continue the pilot, if it showed success, to request further investment for the remainder of the MTFS.

Members were updated that Cheshire East Council would recruit officers, either internally or externally, who would be provided with training from national providers to provide the therapy.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

That the Children and Families Committee:

1. Approve the Edge of Care approach for children and families in Cheshire East, including the procurement of MST for over 10s and FFT for under 10s.

2. Approve 1 year of investment of £532,822 from the Children's Improvement fund to progress a Year 1 pilot.

3. Note the proposed governance and oversight to ensure delivery and sustainability.

The committee considered a report on the response to a Notice of Motion regarding the National Year of Reading.

Members were updated that Cheshire East Council promotes that families encourage children to read as early as possible, and to make use of free local libraries. It was noted that the National Year of Reading was being promoted via the Family Hubs, Weekly School Bulletin, and a communications plan would be put together to further promote it.

Members were updated that Cheshire East Council were working alongside the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner regarding their proposals for developing a Country wide programme to reduce mobile phone use in secondary schools and to achieve Country wide coverage by September 2026. Two secondary schools in Cheshire East were currently acting on this, and all but two to date had shown an interest in supporting the ambition. It was noted that there was a significant negative consequence of screen time on children’s reading ability.

Members were also updated that Cheshire East Council are in discussions with Generation Focus, with a mission for every school to be smartphone free.

Members were updated that schools and education providers were adept at working alongside families and children whose first language wasn’t English.

Members noted that all Cheshire East Members should be encouraged to sign up to the online pledge. 

A friendly amendment to the recommendations was proposed by Councillor L Crane and accepted by the committee:

To Approve both Points 3 and 4, and to amend Point 3 to read:

Welcomes and supports the National Year of Reading and its campaign objectives and commits to working with our partners including local libraries, schools, community groups, literacy organisations, and businesses to promote reading across our communities facilitated by a Member Task and Finish Group reporting back to the appropriate Cabinet Member.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

That the Children and Families Committee:

Note that:

1. Point 1: Notes that the Government has designated 2026 as the National Year of Reading, supported by national partners and charities to encourage reading for pleasure.

2. Point 2: Recognises the benefits of reading for educational attainment, wellbeing and social inclusion.

Approve that:

3. Point 3: Welcomes and supports the National Year of Reading and its campaign objectives and commits to working with our partners including local libraries, schools, community groups, literacy organisations, and businesses to promote reading across our communities facilitated by a Member Task and Finish Group reporting back to the appropriate Cabinet Member.

4. Point 4: Requests that the Leader, on behalf of the Council, completes the online Pledge stating actions the Council

The committee received a report on the findings and recommendations of the Home to School Transport Task & Finish Group.

Members were updated that work on the Home to School Transport had been taking place since 2022. It was noted that if a child could not safely be placed on public transport to get to school, then a taxi was the alternative provision – the taxi services, although the Council was working with families to find the best route and alternative travel arrangements. The Council was developing Personal Travel Budgets to give to families for them to utilise to get their child to school the best was possible – this process was audited and monitored and was being used by about 17% of families.  

It was noted that despite predicting a saving in the area, there has been an overspend. It was noted that there had been a discrepancy in the FR3 and FR4 finance reports which had been presented to committee. This was due to an error with the system which generated payments and invoices which has been rectified. The Council had employed consultants to assist with cost avoidance measures and route optimisation, which had meant that the overspend was not as large as it otherwise would have been. Key Performance Indicators were being worked on.

It was noted that the service was demand driven, which often lead to high costs. Members were updated that the Council has a statutory obligation to transport children to school and were doing what was possible to ensure value for money. It was noted that there were large differences in the average cost to transport a child to school in a rural and urban areas.

Members were updated that the Council utilises a “reverse auction” dynamic purchasing system where a panel of suppliers bid downwards in order to be awarded transport contracts which receives consistent bids from suppliers and allows the Council to manage costs more effectively. Members were updated that at the present time there was no active programme for School Streets in Cheshire East’s Highways programme.

It was noted that the Council has access to a lot of information from neighbouring Local Authorities, and there was a nation data set which provides details and the Council reviews this on a monthly basis.

It was noted that the recommendations of the report called for regulatory changes to the taxi licensing policy.

Members requested further information on cost avoidance and the Dedicated Schools Grant. Officers committed to provider a written response.

Members requested further information on the average per mile cost of transporting children. Officers committed to provider a written response.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

That the Children and Families Committee:

1. Note the Final Report of the Home to School Transport Task and Finish Group and acknowledge its findings, evidence base and conclusions.

2. Approve the implementation of a system?wide review to embed the Total Cost of Placement (TCOP) approach across all relevant directorates, ensuring transport implications are fully considered in decisions relating to children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), cared?for children, and those receiving education other than at school (EOTAS) or alternative provision.

3. Approve a review of the effectiveness of recent school transport procurement changes and approves the development of measures to reduce contract churn, strengthen market capacity, and improve the service experience for families.

4. Approve that an Annual Home to School Transport Report be produced and published, setting out expenditure, performance data, lessons learned and priorities for the forthcoming year.

5. Support the development of a School Travel Support Charter which:

a) Sets out clear and mutual expectations between the council, families and providers;

b) Establishes a structured parent feedback mechanism independent of the Parent Carer Forum;

c) Improves the clarity and accessibility of information relating to Personal Travel Budgets (PTBs).

6. Approve progressing work to identify a lead officer responsible for exploring and developing an independent travel training programme with internal stakeholders, local colleges and specialist partners, and supports continued promotion of PTBs alongside other suitable alternative travel arrangements.

7. Agree that future Available Walking Route (AWR) schemes are progressed in line with policy, where they provide a cost-effective means of increasing

opportunities for non-motorised journeys, with investment in AWR schemes forming part of the integrated transport delivery programme.

8. Agree to the review of opportunities to extend use of the council’s own fleet to provide extra capacity of home-to-school transport.

9. Authorise the Chair of the Children and Families Committee to write to the Department for Education, the Local Government Association and relevant national bodies to:

a) Urge reform of SEND transport funding and statutory duties;

b) Request updated national guidance that recognises rural challenges and modern parental work patterns;

c) Advocate for regulatory changes to address inconsistencies in taxi licensing arrangements, including issues arising from out?of?area licensing models

10. Support continued collaboration with the Cheshire & Warrington Combined Authority and the regional SEND Travel Steering Group to share best practice, explore joint opportunities and influence future policy development.

The committee considered a report on the Children and Families Capital Programme - School Condition Programme 2026/27.

Members were updated that Cheshire East Council’s Facilities Management Team worked along side partner organisation EQANS to carry out works to schools and checked that value for money was being delivered. It was noted that as part of the plan, a £250,000 fire alarm was to being installed in a school – this was noted as a large sum of money, but it was essential for the safety of students and teachers in a large high school.

It was noted that the 20% figure detailed in the recommendation was a standard amount and avoided the need for each decision on repairs to be approved by committee; however, for any larger sums of money, the decision would be referred to committee. Members were updated that S106 contributions could not be used for improving the condition of schools.

It was noted that lessons had been learned from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme where Air Source Heat Pumps had been installed in some schools as “back-up” heating sources.

It was noted that the Facilities Management Team had carried out an assessment of the Council’s Civic buildings as to whether they could utilise solar panels, but this had not yet been carried out at any of the maintained schools which Cheshire East Council was responsible for.

Members requested further details on the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme lessons learned. Officers committed to provider a written response.

RESOLVED (by Majority):

That the Children and Families Committee:

1. Approve the School Condition Programme of schemes as detailed in Appendix 1.

2. Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Children’s Services to approve uplifts to Project Costs of schemes approved in the School Condition Programme (and the updates received during the financial year) to a maximum of 20% of the approved capital budget. This will ensure that schemes can be progressed in a timely manner and to provide updates to committee as required.

3. Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Children’s Services to determine the school sites and works to be instructed from the block funding allocation set out in Appendix 1 and take all steps to deliver these works.

4. Note the overview of Children and Families Capital Programme which includes current schemes in progress and those completed during 2025/26 as detailed in Appendix 2.

Councillor Emma Gillman left the meeting at the commencement of Item 7 and did not return.

To enter a Services Agreement with Innovate (H&SC) Services Ltd for its division known as Reconnect to deliver a targeted intervention programme aimed at reducing the number of children and young people in residential care, increasing family-based placements, and achieving financial savings. Decision agreed at Children and Families Committee on 16^th February 2026.

To enter a Services Agreement with Innovate (H&SC) Services Ltd for its division known as Reconnect to deliver a targeted intervention programme aimed at reducing the number of children and young people in residential care, increasing family-based placements, and achieving financial savings. Decision agreed at Children and Families Committee on 16^th February 2026.

To approve the award of a Contract to Jett Distribution Ltd (the Supplier) for the Distribution of approximately 180,000 23ltr Kerbside Food Waste Caddies

To award a contract for Retrofit Delivery.

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.

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.

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.

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 the relevant Cabinet Member, to implement the recommended approach.

The meeting adjourned for a short break.

Item 5 - Notice of Motion – Traditional Directional Signs.

Following the break, the Committee returned to considering the Notice of Motion on Traditional Direction Signs.

The Chair invited Cllr Chadwick to propose his amendment, which was seconded by Cllr Burton.

Amendment

“To note with regard to street signs, that the Head of Highways will work with the cabinet member responsible to:

(i)             Consider a 12-month programme to:

a.    Assess/identify all notable traditional heritage related signs

b.    Record locations and condition

c.     Create a comprehensive asset register

(ii)            Review and identify an annual percentage for non-adopted signage for consideration as part of the Councils maintenance programme.

In addition, the Head of Highways will write to Town & Parish Councils to encourage local adoption of signs and provide guidance on maintenance and preservation”.

The amendment was accepted by the committee as a friendly amendment and therefore became part of the substantive motion to be considered by the committee.

RESOLVED (Unanimously)

That the Highways and Transport Committee:

1.    Note the position regarding how the Council prioritises maintenance of highway infrastructure set out in paragraphs 4 to 10 of the report.

2.    Approve the response to the Notice of Motion, set out in paragraphs11 to 18 of the report: and

3.    Note with regard to street signs, that the Head of Highways will work with the cabinet member responsible to:

                        I.         Consider a 12-month programme to:

a.    Assess/identify all notable traditional heritage related signs

b.    Record locations and condition

c.     Create a comprehensive asset register

                      II.         Review and identify an annual percentage for non-adopted signage for consideration as part of the Councils maintenance programme.

In addition, agree that the Head of Highways will write to Town & Parish Councils to encourage local adoption of signs and provide guidance on maintenance and preservation.

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.

7. Agree that upon receipt of funding as part of the consolidated settlement to the Cheshire & Warrington Combined Authority, authorise the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, to make all necessary arrangements to delivery to 2026/27 transport programmes.

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.

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 above £500,000 up to and including £1,000,000 as per Table 7 of the report.

6. Note the Supplementary Capital Virements above £500,000 up to and including £5,000,000 to be approved by relevant member(s) of CLT and Chief Finance Officer in consultation with Chair of the Highways and Transport committee and the Chair of Finance Sub Committee as per Table 8 of the report.

7. Note the Supplementary Capital Estimates (SCEs) and Capital Virements above £5,000,000 approved by Full Council asper Table 9 of the report.

8. Note the Capital Budget Reductions asper Table 10 of the report.

9. Note the available reserves position as per Table 11 of the report.

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 asset identification, town and parish council engagement and a structured maintenance approach.

Officers indicated support for the intent of the amendment but advised that:

• Committing to a defined audit programme could have unquantified financial implications.
• Setting a percentage?based maintenance target could not be supported without clarity on cost and prioritisation.

Advice was sought from the Monitoring Officer who stated that amendments could not alter the content of the officer’s report other than for matters of factual accuracy.  The Chair invited Councillor Chadwick to put forward his proposed amendment as an additional recommendation and stated that the committee would move onto the next agenda item to allow him time to compose his wording.

The Economy and Growth Committee at is meeting on 11 March 2025 considered a report on the ‘Carbon Neutral Update and Mersey Forest Partnership’ and delegated authority to the of Growth and Enterprise, in consultation with the Governance, Compliance and Monitoring Officer, and the S151 Officer, to take all necessary steps to enter into legal agreements with The Mersey Forest Partnership.

To approve the continued partnership with the Mersey Forest for the period April 2025 to March 2030 including the adoption of the Mersey Forest Plan 2025-2030.