SOUTH CHESHIRE CHAMBER HOSTS
TWO VIEWS OF CHESHIRE'S FUTURE
On Thursday evening, South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce and
Industry hosted a stimulating evening of argument and
counter-argument in their training suite at Enterprise House in
Crewe, where Chamber Members had the opportunity to weigh up the
arguments for the future of Local Government in the
county.
Pitting their wits against one another were Councillor Peter
Kent, Council Leader of the Borough of Crewe and Nantwich and
Ian Dunn, Director for Regional Affairs at Cheshire County
Council.
Councillor Kent is a strong advocate of the "Three Modern
Cheshire Councils" case that would see Crewe and Nantwich married
with Vale Royal Borough to create a new all-purpose local council
serving a population of 233,000 people in the new District of
Mid-Cheshire.
Mr Dunn, representing the county, argued in favour of one
county-wide unit serving a population of 674,000 and governing out
of Chester and Winsford bases.
Both speakers argued their cases powerfully and were then
quizzed by a panel from the Chamber who posed several challenging
issues.
The Chamber's Chairman, John Beardmore, acted as Chairman for
the event which was designed to address an important issue that
will become more prominent as the Autumn referendums on Regional
Government for the NorthWest and the shape of Local Government draw
closer.
Commenting on the outcome of the evening, Councillor Peter
Kent , Leader of Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council, said: "It
was good to see the Chamber taking an interest in this subject,
which will be important to their members when we all vote later
this year. Local government is a complex subject and needs this
sort of in-depth debate."
Councillor Kent, who leads the Labour Group on the Borough
Council, added:
"There are strengths and weaknesses on both sides but I felt
that one issue could not be avoided. Local government needs as many
elected members as possible, so that it can stay in touch with
residents' concerns, especially reflecting concerns about council
taxes. Three unitary councils for Cheshire is the only system that
will do that."
ENDS
PHOTOGRAPH:
Ian Dunn, Regional Affairs Director of Cheshire County
Council, John Beardmore, Chairman of South Cheshire Chamber and
Councillor Peter Kent, Leader of Crewe and Nantwich Borough
Council.
COUNCIL CONTACTS:
Council
Contact:
Darren Willetts (Policy Officer)
Telephone: 01270
537037
Council Press
Contact: Ian Richardson
Press Officer
Telephone: 01270
537565
117 2004
2nd February 2004