Post Tagged with: "Government"

Future of village pub in Audlem in doubt as landlords leave

Future of village pub in Audlem in doubt as landlords leave

A couple who run the Lord Combermere pub in Audlem have announced they are leaving, throwing the future of the pub into doubt.

Rachel Tremblay and partner Cameron Cousens revealed last night that they are to leave after two and a half years running the venue.

June 9, 2026
Cheshire East given “exceptional financial support” by Govt for third year

Cheshire East given “exceptional financial support” by Govt for third year

Cash-strapped Cheshire East Council has been granted exceptional financial support from the government for the third year so it can balance its books, writes Belinda Ryan.

The authority was informed yesterday its request for £35 million for the next financial year has been agreed in principle.

February 24, 2026
Cheshire East bid for 10% council tax hike rejected by Govt

Cheshire East bid for 10% council tax hike rejected by Govt

It appears Cheshire East Council’s bid to hike up council tax by 9.99% in 2026-27 has been rejected by the Government.

The cash-strapped authority had applied for the extraordinary measure, way above the normal cap of 4.99%, due to its massive funding gap.

February 10, 2026
Cheshire East to seek 9.99% rise in Council Tax in 2026-27

Cheshire East to seek 9.99% rise in Council Tax in 2026-27

Cash-strapped Cheshire East Council is applying to the government for permission to increase council tax by up to 9.99% this year, writes Belinda Ryan.

The council is looking at a funding a massive gap of £18.2 million for the 2026/27 financial year.

January 27, 2026
Plans for new Leighton Hospital build move step closer

Plans for new Leighton Hospital build move step closer

A new Leighton Hospital is a step closer after a government joint investment committee approved Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Strategic Outline Case.

It is the first of three business cases the trust must complete before construction on the new hospital can begin.

October 9, 2025
Cheshire East Council - Delamere House, Crewe 1 (Google)

Tories call for Cheshire East Council change to cabinet system

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”.

July 20, 2025
Cheshire East Council - Delamere House, Crewe 1 (Google)

CEC must scrap committee system under Government reform plans

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’.

July 4, 2025
Plans to improve Cheshire East SEND provision hang on Govt decision

Plans to improve Cheshire East SEND provision hang on Govt decision

Plans for improving special needs provision for Cheshire East children are in limbo because the government has not made a decision on the authority’s bid to convert its former HQ into a school, a councillor said.

Officers briefed the children and families committee on the council’s proposed SEND (special educational needs and disability) and AP (Alternative Provision) ‘One Plan’.

June 11, 2025
aerial pic of Wistaston Brook housing estate

LETTER: Build too many houses and nature will suffer

Dear Editor,
Ideally, I would not like to see more and more houses built.

Our population is growing out of all proportion and nature will always suffer.

April 30, 2025
Government approves funding for state-of-the-art Leighton Hospital

Government approves funding for state-of-the-art Leighton Hospital

Patients in Crewe and Nantwich are to benefit from a new state-of-the-art hospital after the Department of Health and Social Care rubber-stamped hundreds of millions of pounds of funding to redevelop Leighton Hospital.

Health Minister Karin Smyth has confirmed funding available for schemes in the first wave of the New Hospital Programme, including Leighton Hospital.

April 16, 2025
Cheshire East Council - Delamere House, Crewe 1 (Google)

CEC to receive £25.3m “exceptional financial” help from Government

The government has confirmed Cheshire East Council will receive exceptional financial support of £25.3m, meaning it can set a balanced budget for the next financial year, writes Belinda Ryan.

The cash-strapped council was informed yesterday (Thursday) it had been granted the extra support.

February 21, 2025
Bankruptcy warning from Cheshire East Council finance boss

Bankruptcy warning from Cheshire East Council finance boss

Cheshire East Council will be effectively bankrupt if the government doesn’t approve the use of exceptional financial support by the end of this financial year, the council’s head of finance said.

The council applied for £17.6m of EFS last February because of the projected overspend this financial year.

February 8, 2025
Cheshire East Council - Delamere House, Crewe 1 (Google)

Cheshire and Warrington set for devolution after Government approval

People in South Cheshire could soon be governed by a new devolved Cheshire and Warrington authority as part of the Government’s devolution priority programme.

The region is one of six which has been approved to go forward under the Government’s plans to restructure local governance.

February 5, 2025