Crisis talks call over great divide

Feb 19 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

THE leader of Cheshire’s Labour group is seeking an urgent meeting with government ministers over the plans to divide the county.

Last year, it was confirmed Whitehall was pushing ahead with a scheme to axe seven councils and replace them with two authorities.

This means the county council and six borough councils will cease to exist from April, 2009, according to a written government announcement to Parliament last December.

The plans have been fiercely opposed by county councillors, who have now demanded an urgent meeting with Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, to highlight the dire financial situation they say would face two unitary councils in a split Cheshire.

ŠMembers of all parties agreed to ask the county’s Labour group leader, CllrŠDerek Bateman, to seek a meeting with the minister – “on behalf of all the ratepayers of Cheshire.”

Cllr Bateman said: “The council has Šasked me to use my best endeavours to arrange this meeting, and that is exactly what I shall do. I do have concerns and believe that Šany possibility of a significant shortage of resources needs to be addressedŠ as soon as possible.”

The Government’s plans for Cheshire envisage the merger of the Congleton, Crewe & Nantwich and Macclesfield boroughs to create East Cheshire council, with Chester, Vale Royal and Ellesmere Port & Neston councils brought together to make up the West Cheshire authority.

According to the Department for Communities and Local Government, the proposals put forward “make ongoing annual savings that more than outweigh any transitional costs within five years”, and the split is going ahead because the plans “meet our tough financial and other tests”.

But, in the county council, there was full backing for calls Šfrom Liberal Democrat councillor Pat Fearnley for a meeting to allow the council and other groups to express their worries.

ŠCllr Fearnley said: “We are acting on behalf of the council taxpayers of this countyŠ because there is a very Šgenuine and widespread concern that Štwo new councils would be at a serious financial disadvantage.

Š“Shortage of money can only manifest itself in higher council taxes, cuts in service or redundancies, any or all of which will affectŠCheshire people – particularly the elderly and disadvantaged.”

ŠShe added: “The situation is of even greater concern because it is believed that theŠTreasury has said it will not pay for the transitional costs.”

liammurphy