Voters have until 5pm today to have their say on proposals for a new form of community governance.
Ballot papers have been sent out to more than 50,000 residents in Macclesfield asking them if they back the creation of a new town council or seven smaller parish councils.
The other proposal on the table is the development of 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 5pm on Monday to cast their votes - but the ultimate decision lies with the council.
The issue has divided opinion among the town’s 12 borough councillors.
The town’s mayor coun Janet Jackson and fellow Labour coun Ken Edwards, are advocates of creating a new town council calling it a chance to bring some power and influence back to the town.
Coun Edwards said: “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.”
Coun Lesley Smetham, who represents the Gawsworth ward, is firmly behind the idea of parish councils.
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 other option is to give more powers to the current LSDC, which is run by the town’s 12 councillors on behalf of Cheshire East Council.
This is supported by independent councillors Lloyd Roberts and Brendan Murphy who argue the extra layer of democracy and cost of the taxpayer is not worth it.
Either ‘parishing’ option comes at a cost with an extra charge, called a precept, added to council tax bills. Of the 115 parish or town councils in Cheshire East the most expensive parish precept is Nantwich where residents in band D homes pay £95.24, while Aston-by-Budworth parish council charge residents £5.53 per year.
Crewe, which is roughly the same size as Macclesfield, costs tax payers an extra £28 per year.
To have your say return your ballot to Registration Service and Business Manager, Cheshire East Council, Governance and Democratic Services / Ground Floor (Westfields), C/O Municipal buildings, Earle Street, Crewe, CW1 2BJ, or by email to communitygovernance@cheshireeast.gov.uk.
