If their lips move . . .

Anyone living in Macclesfield will feel the impact of the disaster that is Cheshire East – on a daily basis.

Those living in Macclesfield prior to the town’s unification (swallowing up) into Cheshire East, will be only too aware of the massive negative impact it had on Macclesfield.

Overnight Macclesfield became an insignificant flea in the swamp of Cheshire East.

Now, leaders of Cheshire and Warrington’s three councils have written to the government asking for the region to be included in its priority programme for devolution – which means Macclesfield’s virtually non-existent influence in matters will shrink to nothing.

As with the unification of Cheshire East there’s little if anything we can do – the authorities all enjoy political majorities so it’s a slam dunk decision that will be carried through with barely a murmur of discontent.

Despite the huge costs involved, the benefit for the Government, running scared of a wipeout in local council elections, is that local elections can be cancelled.

Which means the disenfranchised electorate can do nowt – all legal and above board!

We’ll be told of all the significant advantages of devolution, economies of scale, transparency, etc, but the shambles Cheshire East has made of things should be a warning – and will be a shadow of what will come with the devolution of power from Westminster to people who have even less fiscal acumen than the bozos in Parliament.

Give them power and they’re sure to abuse it. Cheshire East is on the verge of bankruptcy. Check out the increases in your council tax bill year on year – this year it’s going to rocket – all brought about by appalling financial profligacy.

Check out Doug Pickford’s take on the subject then ask yourselves if we can trust anything we’re told.

A letter, to Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution Jim McMahon, follows the publication of a White Paper in December 2024, which sets out the government’s commitment to devolution across England. It states the three councils’ aspirations to seek a devolution agreement that would include an elected mayor. 

We’re told it won’t impact on the independence of the current authorities but ask yourself this – with yet another tier of local government – there’ll have to be new headquarters – after all that’s critical for them to be taken seriously. New offices, executives, supporting staff, etc. Or maybe they’ll do what the EU does, move its offices and staff around each month to Strasbourg and Brussels, so each authority gets a fair crack.

And they’ve stated another mayor is essential – and of course that means a deputy mayor, a mayoral office, attendants by the yard, more staff, a limo of course, chains of office inevitably, lavish entertainment allowances. The BBC said back in 2017 that Manchester’s mayoral office would cost the city an initial £5.4 million with £2 million a year thereafter. Who do you think pays for that? If you’re told Westminster it’s your money, again.

Remember a few years back Cheshire East told us it was critical to have new Westfield’s headquarters in Sandbach? Back in 2013 building costs were estimated at £3.8 million – who knows what the actual cost was. 10 years later, if you check out its list of offices Sandbach no longer appears. But it’s ok – we have two in Crewe, where all your money currently heads. Check out the reasons for Westfield’s closure – “improve productivity , reduce costs” – the usual garbage. By the way if cost an extra £2.2 million to move out of Westfield’s.

Do you honestly believe you can trust Cheshire East councillors to do what’s best for local residents?

In the letter to the Government, Councillor Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council; Councillor Hans Mundry, leader of Warrington Borough Council, and the leader and deputy leader of Cheshire East Council, Councillor Nick Mannion and Councillor Michael Gorman, said: “The three local authorities, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Warrington, are committed to working in partnership to progress a devolution agreement with His Majesty’s government and establish a mayoral strategic authority by May 2026. 

“We look forward to working with you and your colleagues in 2025 and are grateful that you have recognised all the previous pre-planning work we have done together that has resulted in us being recognised for inclusion in the Devolution Priority Programme.” 

Before any agreement, ‘views will be sought from the region’s residents, communities and businesses on how devolution could benefit Cheshire and Warrington. Any formal devolution agreement would need to be agreed by each council as well as the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee, which provides leadership on strategic economic issues for the region.’  

Of course we all know what this means – ‘consultation’ a Cheshire East word that describes publication of a questionnaire online, which few online know about and those offline know zilch about. As with the Police council tax precept it’s possible the only ones ‘voting’ are those that would benefit from the changes.

And just when did you hear about the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee being formed – and what are the costs of doing so?

The letter continues: “It’s clear that devolution would bring significant power and funding to the Cheshire and Warrington region. We’re ambitious for our region and we want to seize this opportunity to benefit our residents, communities and businesses.”

Note that word ‘power’ – ever heard the phrase “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely!”

“Devolution would allow us to make more decisions here in Cheshire and Warrington, rather than decisions about our region and its almost one million residents being made in London. Being part of the government’s priority programme would put us at the front of the queue for the potential benefits of devolution – and reaffirms that we are working together to get the best outcomes for our region.

“Devolution is about national government transferring powers and resources away from London and into regions. It’s not about merging councils. Individual councils would retain their current responsibilities and continue to provide services for local people.”

All sounds good doesn’t it?

But don’t believe a word. Remember, if a politician’s mouth moves you can pretty much assume they’re lying!