Cash-strapped Cheshire East Council spent almost £20,000 on lawyers in just two years fighting pothole compensation claims, new figures show today.
Freedom of Information data shows the council received 1,471 compensation claims for pothole damage to vehicles in 2021, 2022 and the first two months of 2023.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council looks set to consult on plans for a lane rental scheme which could see utility companies charged up to £2,500 ‘rent’ a day for digging up roads to carry out repairs.
The scheme, which has been trialled and operates in some areas in the south of England, allows highways authorities to charge companies for the time that street and road works occupy their busiest routes.
Plans to dual the A500 between Meremoor Moss roundabout and the M6 are back under review after the cancellation of the HS2 high speed railway.
Cheshire East says it is hoping to modify its plans for the dualling of the section in response to the decision to axe the HS2 section between Crewe and Birmingham.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
A Nantwich councillor has asked if Cheshire East Council has plans to introduce a programme to help people quit vaping amid a rising numbers of young people using vapes.
Cllr Anna Burton’s comments came as a recent support showed the percentage of young people in Cheshire East claiming to vape regularly has almost doubled since 2020.
Eddisbury MP Edward Timpson is to run his 18th London Marathon in memory of his mother and to raise funds for The Christie Charity.
Mr Timpson, formerly a Tory MP for Crewe and Nantwich, will be lacing up his running shoes for the 2024 London Marathon on Sunday April 21.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council has so far achieved just £35,000 of the £135,000 savings it hoped to make by cutting back on the ‘cost of democracy’.
The council agreed in February 2023 to reduce the cost of democracy by £135,000 by reviewing the number of committees, reducing use of external venues, freezing councillor allowances and reducing travel and printing costs.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Plans for 53 homes and a pub in open countryside at Acton near Nantwich have been recommended for refusal.
The application, for the development on land south of Monks Lane and west of Chester Road, was originally submitted in 2019.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council is embarking on a “transformation programme” to change the way the council operates and try to save £100 million over the next four years.
The cash-strapped council was recently granted exceptional financial support from the government to the tune of £17.6 million.
Residents across South Cheshire without off-street parking will have greater access to electric vehicle charging points from next year.
It follows a funding boost of more than £2.17 million for Cheshire East Council from the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Recent Comments