THE future of Cheshire’s local government could be decided by MPs today.
An order to create two all-purpose unitary authorities in the west and east of the county is due to be discussed in the House of Commons this afternoon.
But with fierce opposition to the plans by some MPs a heated debate is expected to go on well into the night and possibly the early hours of tomorrow morning.
A committee of Peers tried to delay the motion last week claiming vital council services -– including child protection and adult care – will suffer if the new authorities are set up in just 15 months.
Within two hours of the report being published by the House of Lords merits committee last Wednesday, the Government announced it would press ahead with pushing the order through the Commons today and the Lords next week.
As part of the plans Cheshire County Council and six borough councils will disappear in April 2009.
Fears the Lords could scupper the plans have prompted Labour group leaders from each of those areas to release a joint statement backing reorganisation.
It reads: “We are concerned at the current situation in further delay of the Parliamentary process of approving the Cheshire Orders. This process is taking too long, and will make it very difficult to work towards a smooth transition following elections on May 1....This can only increase staff uncertainty in all the councils concerned and detract from continuing to provide first class services to Cheshire people. We support the current proposed Orders.”
The statement is signed by Derek Bateman, Cheshire County Council, John Price, Chester City Council, Justin Madders, Ellesmere Port & Neston Borough Council, Brian Lloyd, Vale Royal Borough Council, Richard Watson, Macclesfield Borough Council, Steve Hogben, Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council, and Keith Haines, Secretary, Congleton Constituency Labour Party.
As part of the plans Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich and Macclesfield boroughs will merge to create East Cheshire council, with Chester, Vale Royal and Ellesmere Port and Neston councils brought together to make up the West Cheshire authority.
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