By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East’s planning system has come under fire again – this time from a resident at a public meeting who questioned the ‘transparency and fairness of the process’.
David Teal was speaking at a meeting of the northern planning committee about an application for one house on land at Bollington.
Cheshire East Council is set to end its committee system and move back to a Leader and Cabinet system of decision-making from May.
The decision to change, taken at a meeting of full council in September 2025, will take effect from the council’s annual meeting on May 13th 2026.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council has voted to scrap its committee system and revert to a leader and cabinet style of governance next May.
The decision comes on the back of the government announcing plans for new legislation to abolish the committee system, which it said could be ‘unclear, duplicative, and wasteful, leading to slower, less efficient decision-making’.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East needs to seek government advice on how quickly it can switch to a cabinet system because of an urgent need to speed up decision-making, the Conservatives said.
Knutsford councillor Tony Dean (Con) even asked if it was possible to decide within 24 hours if there were any emergency powers which could be introduced to speed up decision-making, describing the pace of change currently as “snail-like”.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East will have to scrap its committee system and revert to a leader and cabinet model if government plans to simplify local council governance go ahead.
The government is planning to introduce new legislation to abolish the committee system, which local government minister Jim McMahon said could be ‘unclear, duplicative, and wasteful, leading to slower, less efficient decision making’.
A new partnership between Nantwich Youth and Community Centre and local police officers aims to build trust between young people and law enforcement, organisers say.
It’s hoped the partnership will provide youngsters with a chance to engage with police in a “positive and constructive manner” and break down barriers.
Dear Editor,
The LGA Corporate Peer Review last March was crystal clear that the current committee system is not fit for purpose; with its silo-working, too many committees, too many reports, not enough financial control, no effective scrutiny of decision-making and that change was needed at pace.
Dear Editor,
There are multiple reasons why CEC is on the verge of an S114 bankruptcy notice, one of which identified by the LGA, (but on which the Labour-Independent administration have been silent) – is that the Committee System is not working.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council had to abandon a key committee meeting on proposals to improve its “inadequate” children’s services because it didn’t publish the papers in time..
According to government legislation, all councils must publish agendas and papers for public meetings at least five working days before the date of the meeting.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council has turned down a proposal which would have allowed councillors to claim two special responsibility allowances.
At present, councillors can only claim one special responsibility allowance (SRA).
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Red-faced Cheshire East Council bosses have been forced to cancel the first committee meeting of the new council – because they didn’t allow enough time to train councillors.
The agenda for next Wednesday’s (May 31) southern planning meeting has already been published online, but new councillors haven’t received the required training.
Dear Editor,
I asked earlier this week: Is anyone else questioning the allocation of the dedicated schools grant, due to be ratified at next week’s CE’s Children & Families Committee? That meeting was held – and the answer is no.
Just to clarify the situation for everyone, the grant money has been allocated at three different rates based on deprivation factors.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Footfall in the ‘half demolished’ Crewe has increased by 36% but fallen by 5% in Knutsford, according to latest Cheshire East figures.
Figures show Crewe has increased footfall more than any other town, with Nantwich second with an increase of 26%.
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