Angry residents are set to descend on Nantwich Town Council this week amid ongoing concerns around unauthorised traveller camps on Barony Park.
The fourth group of travellers to use the public park for an encampment arrived on Sunday – just an hour after the UK Triathlon event had finished.
By Stephen Topping, local democracy reporter
New independent councillors are gearing up for the start of a new era at Cheshire East Council.
The Independent Group has agreed to form a cabinet with Labour in 2019-20, with a view towards ditching the cabinet system next year and replacing it with cross-party committees – something the group began calling for last year through the Change Cheshire East campaign.
The new Mayor of Nantwich Cllr Arthur Moran has officially taken over the chains of office for 2019-20.
Cllr Moran was formally elected as the new Mayor to take over from Cllr David Marren at a Mayor Making Ceremony on Friday (May 10).
The new Conservative Group leader in Cheshire East said it was “disappointing” that Labour and Independents have agreed to team up and take over the authority.
Cllr Janet Clowes, who represents Wybunbury, reacted after it emerged earlier today (May 13) that Labour and Independents would join together to run Cheshire East Council.
By Stephen Topping
Labour and the independent group are set to confirm an agreement for running Cheshire East Council over the next four years.
A decade of Conservative rule came to an end following the May 2 elections, as the party lost its majority on the council.
By Stephen Topping, local democracy reporter
The leader of Cheshire East Council’s Independent group Arthur Moran has stepped aside ahead of a new era of no overall control.
Cllr Arthur Moran, of Nantwich North and West, has been replaced in the role by Cllr Craig Browne, who represents Alderley Edge.
New Conservative leader for Cheshire East Janet Clowes says talks are now taking place with other parties to see how the council will be run.
Cllr Clowes, who represents Wybunbury Ward, was elected as new leader after the resignation of Cllr Rachel Bailey last night (May 7).
By Stephen Topping, local democracy reporter
Brexit’s role in the demise of Cheshire East Council’s Conservative group has been downplayed by their political rivals.
The Tories suffered a shock loss of control, ending with 34 CEC members – eight short of the number needed for a majority – with Labour on 25, Independents on 19 and Liberal Democrats on four.
By Aran Dhillon, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council leader Rachel Bailey has blamed the ‘impasse of Brexit’ after the Conservatives lost overall control of the authority in a huge shock.
After a dramatic day of results, the council – which is now made up of 34 Tories, 25 from Labour, 19 independents and four Liberal Democrats – has switched to no overall control.
Conservatives have lost control of Cheshire East Council after the local elections as they felt the backlash from disgruntled voters.
The Tories retained Nantwich South and Stapeley, as well as rural wards such as Audlem, Wrenbury, Bunbury, Wybunbury and Willaston.
By Stephen Topping, local democracy reporter
The number of staff employed directly by Cheshire East Council has almost halved in the decade since the authority was launched.
Figures from the council show on April 30 2009, CEC had a headcount of 6,522 employees – excluding school staff and casual workers.
Angry Nantwich residents have called on Cheshire East Council to build perimeter fencing around Barony Park after it emerged the authority has potentially earmarked part of a £2 million investment for the work.
It comes after families lost use of the park for more than a week when the latest illegal traveller encampment parked on the site between Good Friday April 19 and Saturday April 27.
By Stephen Topping, local democracy reporter
The hiring of a temporary officer for more than £1,000 a day has been defended by Cheshire East Council chiefs who insist the alternatives were more costly.
Cheshire East has hired an interim officer to take on the role of monitoring officer – a role required by law, with responsibility for ensuring the council’s code of conduct is followed by members and officers.
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