Four years ago, the Cheshire East “Independent” Group brokered a coalition, putting Labour in charge of our Council despite Labour coming second in the 2019 elections. Since then, we have seen thousands of pounds of public money, spent on ‘vanity’ schemes, and cuts in front-line and early-help services for our vulnerable children and older people. This Labour-led coalition has increased the number and cost of senior managers but failed to invest in highways. They have cut over 90km of winter gritting routes across the borough and highway maintenance has significantly deteriorated.
In addition, since 2019, the coalition has approved the closure of the Congleton household waste and recycling centre, but has failed to address the rising scourge of fly-tipping.
Of course, the past three years have not been easy for any council as we emerge into a post-pandemic world, but the Council’s own chief finance officer confirmed in February 2022 that all Covid-associated costs have been met by central Government. This did not prevent the Labour-led coalition from raising council tax by the maximum amount during that period.
As if a pandemic were not enough, we have all been impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, rising energy costs and a cost-of-living crisis – a scenario being replicated across the world. As the current administration raises your council tax again and plans further frontline service cuts, it’s all the more important that you choose a new Conservative Council that will spend your money wisely.
The previous Conservative Administration delivered balanced budgets every year and for five of those ten years in control, did not raise Council Tax at all.
We delivered sound services and attracted significant investment for important infrastructure projects, (including the Congleton, Middlewich and Poynton by-passes). Many of the road improvements that have been delivered recently are the result of the innovation, vision and hard work of the previous Conservative administration.
We have never stopped in our ambition to make our borough better and we have continued to hold this Labour-Independent Council to account over the past four years and press for changes to benefit residents across the whole of Cheshire East.
This manifesto sets out our renewed commitments to make Cheshire East a better place to live, work and do business. Our plan for Cheshire East includes six core pledges, each underpinned with specific proposals to improve the quality of public services we deliver, focusing on front-line services, innovation in a post-pandemic economy and new ways of working to keep Council Tax under control.
We have a Team with the vision, ambition and commitment to deliver these pledges. We ask that you entrust us with your vote and elect a new Conservative Team to run your Council for 2023 to 2027.
