Democracy
- Once established, the unitary councils will provide all of the main local services people currently get from the county and district councils and would have local offices around their areas
- Cost savings achieved by having two unitary councils (Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester) as opposed to seven county and district councils will pay for improvements to local council services, more local spending and the costs of reorganisation
- Council Tax levels for council services are proposed to be equalised across each unitary area so that all are charged at the same rate as the current lowest level
- There will be 72 councillors in Cheshire West and Chester, the Council will have a cabinet of between 8 and 10 councillors
- Before the next elections in 2011, there will be a review of the boundaries of wards for which councillors will be elected
- Local decision-making and consultation will be improved by creating new local strategic partnerships for east and west respectively while improving neighbourhood working with town and parish councils and local community and voluntary sector organisations
- Reorganisation will be achieved by transferring district council assets and appropriate county council assets to each new council
- In May 2008, elections were held for new councillors to oversee the setting up of the unitary councils as "shadow" councils and subsequently to become councillors in the new councils when formally established and serve until May 2011
- Services will continue to be provided by the existing councils until the unitary handover in April 2009
- Existing county and district councillors will remain in office until the new unitary councils come into being in April 2009
To view the Summary and Explanation section of the Shadow Constitution for Cheshire West and Chester please download the following word document. Please be aware that the structures are subject to agreement on 13th May.
View the Cheshire West and Chester recent election results here.
You can view additional information regarding the individual Councils at:
