By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Plans have been submitted for a solar farm near Nantwich which could supply energy to more than 6,500 homes a year.
The application is for a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic renewable energy scheme on a 17-hectare site near Hatherton Lodge Farm, off Hunsterson Road.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council believes it will have slashed its school transport costs by more than £3m by the end of the financial year.
But they have hired Edge Consultants at a cost of £733,000 to help it bring down the cost of transporting children and young people to school.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council says its request to increase council tax by up to 9.99% without a referendum does not commit it to raising it by that much.
The authority made a formal request to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on Friday to permit the council tax referendum limit to be raised by a further 5% – above the current maximum of 4.99% for 2025-2026.
Cheshire East Council has applied to the government for permission to increase council tax by up to 9.99% – without holding a referendum, writes Belinda Ryan.
Local authorities in receipt of exceptional financial support are able to make a formal request to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to increase their council tax above the usual referendum limits.
A Labour councillor’s bid to change the way Nantwich Mayors are appointed was scuppered – by the current Mayor’s casting vote!
Cllr John Priest put forward a motion that town mayor appointments should be shared between political groups.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council has joined the county’s two others in asking to be included in the government’s priority programme for devolution.
The councils’ leaders have written to Local Government and English Devolution Minister Jim McMahon saying they want to formally open conversations about potential new powers and funding Cheshire and Warrington could receive if it goes ahead with devolution.
Ambitious plans to turn a derelict piece of land next to River Weaver into a hotel, restaurants and apartments have been ditched in favour of a new car park.
Investors behind the “Vision for Nantwich” project had targeted the former derelict land off St Anne’s Lane for the initial scheme.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East councillors have approved the use of the £17.6m Exceptional Financial Support from the Government – despite one fearing it may impoverish future generations with loans that won’t solve the situation.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council chiefs are set to raise council tax by no more than 4.99% – and hope they won’t need to take up an option to increase it by more.
The government has indicated that local authorities, in exceptional circumstances, may be allowed to increase their council tax by more than the 4.99% capped limit.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council is facing a funding shortfall of £18.3m for this current financial year and a further £25.3m for 2025-26.
The latest financial forecast is an improvement on previous predictions but still means the council may require use of exceptional financial support (EFS) from the government.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
A planning application for the new Leighton Hospital should be submitted by April next year with the aim of construction starting at the end of 2026.
Chris Knight, programme director at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said the new building would be the size of about 15 football pitches and be sited on land which had been bought next to the existing hospital.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter.
Cheshire East councillors appeared bemused after quizzing North West Ambulance Service bosses over why an experienced life-saving volunteer medic has been stopped from driving to emergencies on blue lights.
Gavin Palin has been with the ambulance service in Nantwich for 23 years and has responded to life-threatening calls, such as cardiac arrests, on blue lights for the past two decades.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cash-strapped Cheshire East Council is asking the government for exceptional financial support for 2025/26.
In February, the council applied for exceptional financial support (EFS) in the form of a capitalisation direction for up to £17.6m for this financial year, although it has not yet drawn down on that.
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