Politics

Councillors unveil plan for Nantwich Youth Arts Festival

Councillors unveil plan for Nantwich Youth Arts Festival

Town councillors have unveiled early plans for a new Nantwich Youth Arts Festival.

And it’s hoped the idea will grow and become an “international” event in years to come.

March 18, 2024
Aerial photo town centre and church

Confusion over £750,000 Sect 106 money for Nantwich town centre

Nantwich councillors are still not clear what they can spend £750,000 of Section 106 money on in the town – two and half years after receiving the funds.

The money comes from the planning conditions imposed on developers building the Kingsbourne housing development.

March 18, 2024
New Leighton Hospital campus takes big step forward

New Leighton Hospital campus takes big step forward

Leighton Hospital bosses have bought land next to the existing site in their next step to developing a major new hospital campus.

The areas of land, which surrounds the current hospital, will become part of the new Leighton site (pictured).

March 13, 2024
Cheshire East SEND deficit “threatens existence of council” says councillor

Cheshire East SEND deficit “threatens existence of council” says councillor

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council’s ballooning special needs budget deficit is so serious it “threatens the very existence of the council”, a councillor said.

The DSG (dedicated school grant) deficit currently stands at about £90 million.

March 8, 2024
Cheshire Police chief’s pothole warning amid road collisions

Cheshire Police chief’s pothole warning amid road collisions

Cheshire motorists have been involved in potentially lethal collisions while trying to avoid potholes, the county’s police boss said today.

Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer issued the warning as he encouraged more people to report potholes to their local authorities.

March 7, 2024
CEC forced to push back carbon neutral 2025 target

CEC forced to push back carbon neutral 2025 target

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Ambitious plans for Cheshire East Council to be carbon neutral by 2025 are unachievable and have now been pushed back to 2027.

The council made the 2025 commitment in May 2019 and the following year outlined how this would be achieved.

March 5, 2024
94% of Cheshire East parents receive first choice secondary school

94% of Cheshire East parents receive first choice secondary school

Education bosses say 94% of parents in Cheshire East received their first preference secondary school on national secondary school offer day.

More than 4,900 applications were received from parents and carers whose children will be moving up to secondary school in Cheshire East in September 2024.

March 2, 2024
Govt agrees to support Cheshire East with £17.6m package

Govt agrees to support Cheshire East with £17.6m package

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council is to receive a £17.6m financial support package from the government after the authority announced it had worryingly low reserves.

The cash-strapped council applied to the government for the exceptional financial support in the form of a capitalisation direction earlier this month.

March 1, 2024
Cheshire East Council rejects plan to give councillors more allowances

Cheshire East Council rejects plan to give councillors more allowances

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council has turned down a proposal which would have allowed councillors to claim two special responsibility allowances.

At present, councillors can only claim one special responsibility allowance (SRA).

February 29, 2024
CEC approves 4.99% rise in Council Tax and mothballing tips

CEC approves 4.99% rise in Council Tax and mothballing tips

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East councillors have approved a budget for the next financial year which includes mothballing three tips and increasing council tax by 4.99%.

The council voted by 43 to 32 in favour of the budget which brings in a raft of savings measures including emergency tip closures at Bollington, Middlewich and Poynton from April.

February 28, 2024
Cheshire East Council finance boss quits to take up new job

Cheshire East Council finance boss quits to take up new job

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council is on the hunt for another top officer after head of finance Alex Thompson handed in his notice.

Mr Thompson is quitting as director of finance and customer service in May to become executive director for finance and transformation at Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council.

February 27, 2024
Cheshire East Council to receive £180 million transport funding

Cheshire East Council to receive £180 million transport funding

Cheshire East Council is to be allocated more than £180 million to be invested in improving local transport, the Government has announced.

It’s part of the £1.5 billion of reallocated HS2 funding being invested in the North West through the Local Transport Fund.

February 26, 2024
CEC refuse Tory request to reconsider parking charges plan

CEC refuse Tory request to reconsider parking charges plan

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council has refused a formal request from the Conservatives to reconsider the decision to introduce parking charges in free towns and hike up prices in others.

The highways and transport committee last month voted in favour of changes to the parking policy, which includes introducing charges in the existing ‘free’ towns and villages of Audlem, Alsager, Bollington, Handforth, Holmes Chapel, Middlewich, Poynton, Prestbury and Sandbach.

February 23, 2024