The leader of Cheshire East Council has insisted the process around devolution will be transparent while he is in charge of the authority.
Labour’s Nick Mannion added he had already asked questions about the scrutiny of an elected mayor for the county.
The government announced earlier this week that the Cheshire and Warrington region had been confirmed as part of its devolution priority programme.
It is expected that elections for a mayor will take place in May 2026.
Council bosses were asked about the expected cost, given Cheshire East Council has all-out elections in 2027.
They were told by the authority’s head of democratic services, Brian Reed, it would cost an estimated £1m but that this money might be recouped from government.
‘Challenging’
There were angry exchanges between the deputy council leader (independent councillor Michael Gorman) and the opposition group leader (Conservative councillor Janet Clowes).
Cllr Clowes she said questions her group had previously asked had not been answered.
Cllr Gorman accused the Conservative group leader of “political grandstanding for the press” and said “This is a historic move for Cheshire East, Cheshire West, and Warrington.
“The prizes are huge. Job skills, transport, investment, double devolution, fair funding, rurality.”
He admitted the May 2026 timeline is challenging – something the Tories had consistently been arguing.
Cllr Gorman added: “His Majesty’s government will be conducting a formal consultation for eight weeks, but we’ve got to make sure nobody in Cheshire East, whether it be a resident or business, can say they haven’t been informed and haven’t been consulted.
“And we’ve got a job to do in making sure the consultation process means something.”
Cllr Clowes said: “Our role at committees is to scrutinise, and I will never apologise for offering scrutiny.
“Devolution does offer great things for Cheshire East – but it has to be done in a clear, transparent way which, I would argue, is not the case at the moment, but we are working towards it.”
‘Beginning of a journey’
Council leader Nick Mannion was subsequently forced to intervene, in a bid to try to calm the situation.
“One of the issues that I raised last week is around scrutiny of the mayor,” he said. “We are at the beginning of the journey.”
He added: “I can give this assurance to everybody in this room – as long as I’m leader of this council, this process will be as transparent as possible.”
Cllr Mannion said devolution had to be a good deal for Cheshire East if the council was going to support it.
Speaking to Cllr Clowes, he said: “I want you in the tent working with us for the best deal for every business and every resident of Cheshire East.”
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