Democracy in Cheshire West and Chester

By April 2009, the existing county and district councils will be abolished and replaced by two new unitary councils.

Key Facts

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, there will be elections for the 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

Last modified: 15 December 2008