By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East desperately needs to avoid a S114 notice bankruptcy because if government officials run the council residents’ interests come second to balancing books, councillors said.
Several councillors at a finance sub-committee meeting yesterday (November 7) feared the prospect of a S114 notice could become a reality.
A Nantwich dad’s plea to improve play facilities on Brookfield Park sparked a clash among town councillors.
Phil Sweetman spoke to Nantwich Town Council about the need to improve the state of the park where he used to go with his six-year-old daughter.
A father and his son from Nantwich have launched a petition in a bid to improve playground facilities in the town.
Jonathan Jackson and his son Arthur say the lack and state of current facilities on Barony Park are “not safe” and are calling for action.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council proposals for bus services show it wants to improve public transport not just for existing users but make it a valid alternative to car use, a councillor said.
Cllr Laura Crane (Lab) was speaking as councillors discussed the recent bus service review and consultation.
Dear Editor,
Cheshire East councillors unanimously approved a planning application for a zoo to relocate from Alsager to Bidlea Dairy in Holmes Chapel.
This decision comes despite the recommendation from council staff to refuse the application and block a new attraction for our rural Cheshire communities.
By Belinda Ryan
Cheshire East paid out more than £1.32 million in allowances and expenses to councillors in the 2023/24 financial year – an increase of more than £92,000 on the previous year.
In total, the council paid £1,322,817 to councillors compared to £1,230,349 last year.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East councillors have narrowly agreed to consult on proposals which could see some library opening hours slashed.
The vote comes amid warnings that if the council goes bust they would be closed straight away.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council says collecting black bins every three weeks instead of fortnightly may be the only way it can meet future legal requirements for weekly food waste pick-ups.
Tom Shuttleworth, interim director of environment and neighbourhoods, told councillors it didn’t look as if the funding being offered to implement the new weekly food waste collection scheme in 2026, would cover the council’s costs.
Nantwich Town councillors have agreed to u-turn on a decision to charge as much as 20% booking fee for paid-for events in its venues.
It comes as one councillor labelled extra charges placed on ticket sales as “a racket”.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East could be facing effective bankruptcy unless it acts soon after its low reserves, historic overspending, challenging savings targets and inadequate Ofsted rating were highlighted in an external review.
The corporate peer challenge, conducted by senior councillors and officers from other authorities, was critical of many aspects of Cheshire East’s operation.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Councillors were unaware Cheshire East Council was failing some young care leavers because the data they saw painted a different picture, a committee heard.
The council’s children’s services was recently judged to be inadequate by Ofsted.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
The closure of Cheshire East’s school meals service is causing “real distress” to some headteachers and one small school faces losing a full-time staff member.
The council’s children and families committee voted last month to close its loss-making school meals service next April, saying it could no longer afford to subsidise it to the tune of approximately £515,000.
Community leaders are calling on Nantwich residents to back plans to reintroduce a direct bus service between the town and Leighton Hospital.
Cheshire East proposals include restructuring the existing 70, 72 and 73 bus services between Nantwich, Wrenbury and Audlem, and cutting sections to make possible a new direct link to Leighton Hospital.
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