Politics

Cllr Rachel Bailey

Taxpayers fork out more than £360 for Cheshire East Council leader to park her car

Cheshire East residents who face higher car parking fees have forked out more than £360 for the Council Leader to park her car in the past three years.

The figures – obtained through Freedom of Information – are revealed on the day Leader Cllr Rachel Bailey and her Conservative colleagues voted to increase car parking charges across the borough.

February 21, 2019
Councillors urge MPs to back bid to change Cheshire East Council system

Councillors urge MPs to back bid to change Cheshire East Council system

By Stephen Topping, local democracy reporter
Independent councillors in Nantwich and Crewe are urging MPs to get behind plans to transform the way Cheshire East Council is run ahead of a crucial meeting.

Members of the Independent group, including Nantwich councillors Arthur Moran and Penny Butterill, have secured a special council meeting on March 5 to debate whether to change from a cabinet system to a committee system.

February 20, 2019
Alpraham residents blast councils over state of “boundary” road

Alpraham residents blast councils over state of “boundary” road

Residents in Alpraham say one of their local roads is one of the most poorly maintained in Cheshire – because two authorities will not claim responsibility.

Vale Road in Alpraham is set in idyllic countryside on the border between Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West Council.

February 18, 2019
Lord Adonis to speak in Nantwich on Brexit debate

Lord Adonis to speak in Nantwich on Brexit debate

Lord Adonis is to speak at an event in Nantwich on Sunday about the Brexit debate.

He will be at the Crewe Vagrants Sports Club in Willaston between 4-6pm.

February 15, 2019
Nantwich fly-tipping “disgraceful” as Cheshire East recruits officers

Nantwich fly-tipping “disgraceful” as Cheshire East recruits officers

Two officers have been recruited as part of Cheshire East Council’s bid to tackle fly-tipping and waste disposal issues in South Cheshire.

The move comes in a week when fly-tippers dumped a pile of domestic waste just yards from the airman’s memorial grave in Nantwich..

February 13, 2019
Cheshire East parking charge rises approved after public consultation

Cheshire East parking charge rises approved after public consultation

Cheshire East Council has approved an increase in parking charges across the borough after making a few amendments to initial proposals.

The authority received 296 representations during a three-week consultation between November 28 and December 19.

February 8, 2019
Nantwich headteacher urges parents to sign funding petition

Nantwich headteacher urges parents to sign funding petition

A Nantwich secondary headteacher has called on parents to sign a national petition to help schools like his secure better funding.

David Cole, head of Brine Leas Academy, says his school is one of the worst off in Cheshire East.

February 7, 2019
Bus passengers in South Cheshire could receive lower fares under new scheme

Bus passengers in South Cheshire could receive lower fares under new scheme

By Stephen Topping, local democracy reporter
Bus passengers could soon face lower fares and simpler ticketing rules thanks to a project being developed across the north.

Cllr Don Stockton, cabinet member for environment, told members at Cheshire East Council cabinet meeting that “smart ticketing” is due to be rolled out on local buses over the next two years.

February 7, 2019
Council Tax to rise by 2.99% to fund more services, says Cheshire East

Council Tax to rise by 2.99% to fund more services, says Cheshire East

Householders in Nantwich and Crewe face a further 2.99% rise on the Council Tax bills from April, it has been agreed.

Cheshire East Council says the rise is needed to help fund more frontline services.

February 5, 2019
Nantwich MP Laura Smith calls for “urgent need” for extra school funding

Nantwich MP Laura Smith calls for “urgent need” for extra school funding

By Stephen Topping
Crewe and Nantwich MP Laura Smith, a former teacher, has spoken up on the “urgent need” for extra education funding.

Ms Smith, who used to teach at a school in Winsford, was elected in 2017’s General Election after playing a leading role in the fairer schools funding for Cheshire East campaign.

February 5, 2019
Healthcare chiefs in South Cheshire voice fears over Cheshire East Council budget plans

Healthcare chiefs in South Cheshire voice fears over Cheshire East Council budget plans

By Stephen Topping, local democracy reporter
Officers in charge of buying healthcare across the borough have spoken out against the ‘scale of savings proposed’ in Cheshire East Council’s next budget.

The local authority ran its pre-budget consultation for 2019-20 last autumn, and revised proposals will be put before councillors later this month to be signed off.

February 5, 2019
Cheshire East Council chiefs aim to slash social worker caseloads

Cheshire East Council chiefs aim to slash social worker caseloads

By Stephen Topping
Cheshire East Council chiefs are aiming to cut social workers’ caseloads in an effort to provide better support for vulnerable youngsters.

Figures presented to Cheshire East Council’s children and families overview and scrutiny committee on Monday show that the average caseload for social workers in the local authority’s ‘children in need’ and ‘child protection’ teams has remained static over the past year.

February 1, 2019
Mental health spend on children double in different parts of Cheshire, figures show

Mental health spend on children double in different parts of Cheshire, figures show

By Stephen Topping, local democracy reporter
Health chiefs are spending almost twice as much on mental health services for youngsters in some parts of Cheshire than others, according to new figures.

Data presented to the Cheshire East health and wellbeing board shows for 2018-19, the NHS Eastern Cheshire clinical commissioning group (CCG) has spent £2.9 million on child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).

January 30, 2019