Ballot papers have been sent out to more than 50,000 residents in Macclesfield asking them if they want to be ‘parished’ – with the creation of a town council or seven smaller parish councils – or develop the current Macclesfield Local Service Delivery Committee (LSDC), which answers to Cheshire East Council.
It is the latest stage of the Macclesfield Community Governance Review, which is exploring how Cheshire East Council can devolve services and assets – such as CCTV, allotments, burial grounds, markets and public conveniences – to the community.
Residents have until July 28 to cast their votes but the ultimate decision lies with the council.
The town’s mayor, Labour councillor Janet Jackson, is an advocate of a new town council.
She called the vote ‘a once-in-a-generation opportunity’.
She said: “This is a real chance to bring some power and influence back to the town and it should not be missed.”
Fellow Labour councillor Ken Edwards said: “The issue is very simple – do the people of Macclesfield want to be governed directly totally by Cheshire East Council or do they want a town council of their own to share that governance?
“Wilmslow, Knutsford, Congleton, Crewe and every other town and village in Cheshire East has a town or parish council.
“I strongly believe that a town council will give the local community a strong local voice and the ability to support local projects and to improve local services in accordance with what the residents of Macclesfield want.”
Either ‘parishing’ option comes at a cost with an extra charge, called a precept, added to council tax bills.
But Coun Lesley Smetham, who represents Gawsworth ward, said the price is worth it.
She said: “Any model of parish governance is better than none. The current situation prevailing in Macclesfield without a parish or town council means that many opportunities are forgone because a parished area has more opportunity and legal status to provide for residents. The precept, which is usually very little for each household, can provide many benefits.”
The other option is to give more powers to the LSDC, which is run by the town’s 12 councillors on behalf of the council.
This is supported by independent councillor Lloyd Roberts. He said: “I believe the current LSDC would work if given more powers. A town or seven parish councils will create a new tier of local government, 20 or so new councillors, and at the cost of the taxpayer. Do we really need that?”
The leader of the council, Coun Michael Jones, will be discussing the ballot at the Make It Macclesfield breakfast at Macclesfield Town Hall this Friday (July 11) at 7.45am.
He said: “This vote is part of an ongoing consultation. So far there has been no indication that people want a town or parish councils, but giving people the vote is the right thing to do. We will take their views seriously.”
Macclesfield Civic Society, a voluntary group which stimulates public interest in the town, has been busy promoting the vote. Chairman Keith Smith backs a town council. He said: “It is really the only democratic option that meets the needs of the residents of Macclesfield in terms of the delivery of those services that it wishes to claim or Cheshire East wishes to devolve.”
The Cheshire Association of Local Councils (CHALC) is hosting information sessions on the vote next Wednesday, July 16, at 12.30pm to 1.30pm and 2.30pm to 3.30pm at Macclesfield Town Hall, and 7pm to 8pm at Macclesfield Rugby Club.
