Cheshire East Council has launched a survey of residents and other stakeholders to inform a review being undertaken across the borough.
The council – responsible for the governance and electoral arrangements for the 186 town and parish council wards in 142 town and parish councils – launched the review on 28th October 2019.
As part of this process, the council wants to hear residents’ views on how they feel current governance arrangements for town and parishes are faring and whether there is a need for change – and why.
The community governance review (CGR) will include:
● Town and parish boundaries
● Numbers of town and parish councillors
● Grouping of parishes
● Warding
People are being urged to take part in a pre-consultation survey on the council’s website.
The survey data will support the development of community governance proposals for a formal consultation later this year.
Cllr Joy Bratherton, chair of Cheshire East Council’s community governance review sub-committee, said: “As part of the review, we need to hear people’s views on how effective current town and parish arrangements are at meeting local needs and would like to hear any suggestions as to how this could be improved.
“The present arrangements predate the creation of Cheshire East, under local government reorganisation, and we are mindful that there’s since been considerable change to the population, its distribution and to the borough’s settlements.”
Cllr Bratherton added: “There certainly won’t be change for change’s sake and so I would urge people to take part in this pre-consultation survey and share their views via the council website.”
Paper copies of the survey can also be obtained from local libraries or Cheshire East Council’s customer service offices at Macclesfield Town Hall, The Municipal Buildings in Crewe and Westfields in Sandbach.
The survey runs until 31st January 2020.
Government guidelines advise that it is good practice to hold a review of town and parish governance every 10-15 years.
The last one was carried out before Cheshire East Council was created in 2009.
The aim is to complete the process well ahead of the scheduled local elections in May 2023.
For more information about CGR visit the council website here.
