Council Leader calls for reunification of Cheshire

Bunbury Michael Jones

Council Leader Councillor Michael Jones is calling for the reunification of Cheshire in a bold move designed to bring back a county council for the borough.

Today's announcement follows months of talks between the Leader and multi-agency partners about how to improve Cheshire's offer to its residents.

The Leader, who stressed the idea was his own personal view, said: "Cheshire East Council was formed following Local Government Reorganisation in 2009, when Cheshire County Council was effectively carved into two, the other half being Cheshire West.

"The two authorities were made weaker as a result, yet mirror one another in terms of their people and aspirations.

"It didn't make much sense then and it still doesn't! Yes, Cheshire East as a local authority is a great success and I'm sure Cheshire West would say the same about their council.

"But the fact remains, it was a bad decision and the people weren't behind it and I suspect many are still not.

"What I'm calling for today is a review of our separated and divided local government as I set out my ambition for a unified Cheshire Council that serves the needs of all Cheshire residents.

"A unified and strong Cheshire would reduce Council Tax liability for every household to the tune of around £100.

"I want to throw open the debate about 'One Cheshire'! Yes, or no? I think it's got a great feel to it. What do residents think?"

Share your views via the comment box below.

Tags:
Cheshire East Council, Cllr Michael Jones
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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Bob Bracegirdle
Wednesday 10th September 2014 at 11:51 am
Agreed, as long as they can update their services to match those elsewhere. I'm constantly surprised that Leicestershire can do so much better in simple things like recycling bin collections etc.
Stephen Justice
Thursday 11th September 2014 at 9:21 am
Well what a good idea! Eliminate duplicated positions, seek economies of scale, give better value for money or even as quoted, reduce council taxes!

Hopefully the unified county council could also think about better exploiting of outsourcing options and look at streamlining core processes to save still more money.

I only hope that any single new council wouldn't feel the need to spend vast amounts on new branding and identity: why does a non competitive service organisation need to have a pretty logo and corporate colours to "promote" itself? Surely we're stuck with it regardless?
Alan R Davies
Thursday 11th September 2014 at 4:05 pm
Who knows what to believe? At the time that Cheshire County Council was split we were told that there would be rationalisation and savings by moving from a two tier to a single tier organisation. Now we have a two tier organisation again with additional powers given to town councils and parish councils. Now that the costs of reorganisation have already been spent, Councillor Jones assures us that we would save money by reverting to a Cheshire County Council, even after another set of reorganisation costs. Personally I would favour a closer relationship with the Greater Manchester councils than with Chester, since the East and West of Cheshire have little in common with each other.
Matthew Lloyd
Thursday 11th September 2014 at 6:45 pm
Alan,

To say "East and West of Cheshire have little in common with each other" is a rather surprising comment. I can see the argument that Beijing has little in common with Bali, even that London has little in common with the Lewes; but East and West Cheshire? Really?

The two councils already share certain services (the imaginatively named "Shared Services"), though their Joint Committee seems to find it hard to co-ordinate diaries:

http://bit.ly/1qNMw7u

Instinctively it seems to me to be common sense for there to be one council for Cheshire ("Better Together"?), though I will reserve judgement until I understand more about what (if anything) is proposed regarding the structure and associated costs of the reunification.
Marc Asquith
Friday 12th September 2014 at 3:09 pm
I am delighted to say - told you so. Let's not forget that it was Frank Keegan and Wesley Fitzgerald who lead the charge for Cheshire East and Cheshire West when it was plain to see that this was one of the least efficient outcomes. Michael Jones is not a product of the old County Council or of the old Borough Councils - he is totally independant in his view and is not hindered by historic loyalties. I wonder how many years it will take for the two Councils to voluntarily recombine ?
Alan R Davies
Friday 12th September 2014 at 4:12 pm
Matthew,

Surely you wouldn't find my comment surprising if you had travelled to County Hall in Chester when a group of us went to lobby Cheshire County Council over the need for an Alderley Edge bypass. It was clear that councillors representing the area around Chester had no interest in this end of the county whatsoever. Then ask yourself how many local residents travel regularly into Manchester for work, business, leisure, transport connections etc. compared with Chester. Alderley Edge has its own distinct local character, which we all love, but apart from that it is also a commuter village within the Manchester travel to work area.
Frank Keegan
Friday 12th September 2014 at 5:20 pm
I am grateful to Marc Asquith for pointing out my part in creating Cheshire East. When I put myself forward for election next year I can say that under Cheshire East, residents in Alderley Edge will still be paying just under £1,200 for a BAND D property after 6 years of Cheshire East, Under the old system, the bills would have been £1,500 for a BAND D property.

Not promise of future savings, but REAL savings for each taxpayer so far.

Michael clearly did not experience the frustration of having to deal with Cheshire County Council.