Politics

Six-month wait to register birth, Cheshire woman told

Six-month wait to register birth, Cheshire woman told

A Cheshire East woman was told she would have to wait six months for an appointment to register her baby’s birth, councillors heard.

Members of the audit and governance committee are now seeking assurances that, if there are delays, it won’t prevent families from claiming child benefit immediately after the baby’s birth.

October 4, 2021
Eddisbury MP Edward Timpson to run 17th London Marathon for charity

Eddisbury MP Edward Timpson to run 17th London Marathon for charity

Eddisbury MP Edward Timpson is set to tackle his 17th London Marathon – this time in aid of Cheshire Young Carers.

The organisation works to give a childhood to young people aged six to 25 with caring responsibilities.

October 1, 2021
CEC councillors net £1.25 million in expenses and allowances

CEC councillors net £1.25 million in expenses and allowances

Cheshire East councillors netted more than £1.25 million between them in expenses and allowances in 2020-21, latest figures show.

A basic allowance of £12,351 is paid to each of the 82 elected members, adding up to just short of £1 million.

September 30, 2021
CEC councillors back plan to charge over 85s for lifeline alarms

CEC councillors back plan to charge over 85s for lifeline alarms

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East councillors have approved controversial plans to charge the over 85s for a lifeline care alarm system they currently get for free.

At the moment residents who are over 85 and live alone do not pay for the assistive technology (Telecare service) they receive.

September 27, 2021
All Cheshire East Covid costs paid by Government, says finance chief

All Cheshire East Covid costs paid by Government, says finance chief

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East’s entire Covid-related costs have been funded by the government to date and not the council.

The revelation comes after the authority predicted the impact of the Covid pandemic would cost about £70 million and swallow up the council’s reserves.

September 27, 2021
Cheshire East children’s services overspends by £1.7 million

Cheshire East children’s services overspends by £1.7 million

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council’s children’s services department has overspent its budget for the fourth year in a row and the problem has been exacerbated by safeguarding issues because of Covid.

The council as a whole underspent by £1.2m last year, mainly because projects could not be completed because of the pandemic.

September 24, 2021
400 years to repair Cheshire East’s crumbling roads, says highways boss

400 years to repair Cheshire East’s crumbling roads, says highways boss

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Repairing Cheshire East’s roads will take a staggering 400 years if the investment from government continues at the same rate.

That’s the claim made by the chair of the highways committee at Cheshire East Council, Cllr Craig Browne.

September 24, 2021
Plans for parking charges in ‘free’ towns scrapped by Cheshire East

Plans for parking charges in ‘free’ towns scrapped by Cheshire East

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Plans to introduce parking charges in towns where it is currently free, have been controversially scrapped by Cheshire East Council.

If approved, charges would have been introduced in Middlewich, Alsager, Holmes Chapel, Sandbach and other towns in line with Nantwich, Crewe, and Macclesfield.

September 22, 2021
Cheshire East appoints four senior roles with combined pay of almost £500,000

Cheshire East appoints four senior roles with combined pay of almost £500,000

Four new senior officers have been recruited and appointed by Cheshire East Council – with a combined pay of just under £500,000.

The new posts are Executive Director Adults, Health and Integration (up to £139,999), Executive Director Place (£134,999), Executive Director Children’s Services (£129,999) and Director of Policy and Change (£89,999).

September 17, 2021
Sexual abuse of Cheshire East councillor “disgusting”, says Crime Commissioner

Sexual abuse of Cheshire East councillor “disgusting”, says Crime Commissioner

Sexual abuse targeted at a Cheshire East female councillor has been branded “disgusting” by Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer.

Cllr Charlotte Leach has spoken out about the abuse suffered in phone calls.

September 16, 2021
Planning approved for new Crewe bus station and car park

Planning approved for new Crewe bus station and car park

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Building work will begin in January on Crewe’s new bus station and multi-storey car park and the scheme should be completed by August 2023 now planning permission has been granted.

That was the claim of the agent representing the developer at Wednesday’s meeting of Cheshire East’s strategic planning board.

September 16, 2021
Car parking charges to be widened to current CEC “free” towns

Car parking charges to be widened to current CEC “free” towns

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Car parking charges look set to be introduced in Middlewich, Sandbach, Alsager and other Cheshire East towns which are free at the moment.

Sunday charging is also on the cards, with Cheshire East planning to introduce a flat £1 rate for stays longer than an hour across all council-owned paying car parks in the borough on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

September 14, 2021
Cheshire East Council cemetery plans branded “inhumane”

Cheshire East Council cemetery plans branded “inhumane”

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East is to reconsider its borough-wide cemetery strategy after claims the plans are “at best thoughtless and at worst inhumane”.

The council reviewed the strategy in 2018 and a long term proposal was that families would have to bury loved ones in Crewe or Macclesfield as other local cemeteries became full.

September 12, 2021