NHS staff in Crewe and Nantwich shortlisted for awards
NHS staff from Crewe and Nantwich have been shortlisted for the NHS Parliamentary Awards.
The awards recognise outstanding contribution of staff and volunteers working in the health service.
Politics
Councillors urge MP on action to stop Cheshire East library cuts
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Two Cheshire East councillors have called on Crewe & Nantwich MP Kieran Mullan to lobby the chancellor for funding to stop library services being slashed.
Cheshire East Council faces a £20m funding gap because of soaring inflation and the increasing pressure on services.
CEC bosses blasted for failing to highlight “pay rise” talks
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council chiefs have been criticised for failing to mention a retrospective pay rise was already being considered when it consulted with the public on proposals to freeze councillors allowances for 2023/4.
As reported last week, the council’s corporate policy committee agreed to recommend that councillors’ basic allowance be increased by £500 a year and be backdated for 2022/3.
CEC councillors to vote on increasing their allowances
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Councillors on Cheshire East are to vote next month on increasing their basic allowances by £500 a year – four months after they considered freezing it for 2023/24.
The corporate policy committee agreed to recommend to full council that the basic allowance be increased by £500 and be backdated for 2022/3.
Cheshire East to scrap planning committee for efficiency
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council looks set to scrap one of its three planning committees to save money and make the system more efficient.
At present the authority has two “area committees” – northern and southern planning – which both have the same functions and responsibilities, but deal with planning matters on a geographical basis.
New garden waste charges won’t rake in as much, CEC councillors warn
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East is unlikely to rake in the millions it forecast by introducing garden waste charges and the knock-on effects could impact the council’s carbon neutral target, the Tories claim.
Plans to introduce the charges were voted through as part of the budget in February.
Wybunbury councillor questions £320,000 audit report into CEC culture
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
A councillor has questioned the “appropriateness” of a report into Cheshire East’s culture being carried out by the person who was the council’s auditor at the time of the issues being investigated.
Grant Thornton wants to bill the council a whopping £319,370 for the public interest report it did on the impact of the council’s culture and governance arrangements during 2014 – 2018.
Consultation launched on cuts to Cheshire East library services
Residents can have their say on controversial plans to cut library services in Cheshire East.
Cheshire East Council is consulting on its revised proposals aimed at making budget savings over the next four years.
Residents frustrated as A51 Reaseheath spine road saga drags on
Frustrated residents in Nantwich feel they are being left in the dark over the progress of the A51 spine road at Reaseheath.
The road, initially planned to be opened in February 2022, remains closed with work still to do on both connections points.
CEC urged to stop housing developers ripping residents off
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council is being urged to look at ways to prevent developers creating so-called ‘fleeceholds’ whereby residents can be ripped off for services such as public space maintenance.
Under current law and planning policy there is no requirement for new open space that is created as part of a new residential development to be transferred to the council by the developer.
Cheshire East social workers moving to Stoke for higher pay, says councillor
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East is training up social workers to fill vacancies but some then hop over the border to Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire because they pay more, a councillor has said.
Like most local authorities, Cheshire East has to rely on agency staff because it can’t recruit enough social workers.
Nantwich groups to receive town council donations
A number of Nantwich groups and organisations are to receive donations from Nantwich Town Council during 2023-24.
In total, the council is set to make around £71,300 in donations throughout the financial year, a report to go before councillors outlines.
Planning backlog “slowly reducing” says Cheshire East Council
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council is “slowly reducing” the backlog of planning applications despite still struggling to retain and recruit skilled staff.
A report to the council’s environment and communities committee says the number of live applications in the backlog has reduced over the 12 month period from 2,654 to 1,959, at the end of March 2023.
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