Shadow Authority gets to work

Historic first meeting at Chester Town Hall

05/16/2008

An historic meeting in the life of local government in Cheshire was held on 15 May at Chester Town Hall when members of Shadow Authority for Cheshire West and Chester Council confirmed appointments to its executive and other key posts.

The Conservative led administration, elected on 1 May, which will take full responsibility on 1 April next year, has its work cut out over the coming months as it oversees the transition of Cheshire County, Chester City , Ellesmere Port and Neston and Vale Royal councils' services into the new unitary authority.

The 72 councillors representing Cheshire West and Chester will be responsible for planning, refuse collection, education, libraries, highways, children's services, council tax, social services and the environment among other services.

But their first task at a packed Chester Town Hall was to appoint a chairman and an Executive body.

The Chairman of the Shadow Authority will be Councillor Brian Crowe.

The Executive:

• Leader - Councillor Mike Jones
• Deputy Leader and Finance and Performance - Councillor Leslie Ford
• Adult Services - Councillor Brenda Dowding
• Area Neighbourhoods - Councillor John Grimshaw
• Children's Services - Councillor Arthur Harada
• Customer Services - Councillor Myles Hogg
• Prosperity and Regeneration - Councillor Herbert Manley
• Community Safety - Councillor Keith Musgrave
• Environment - Councillor Neil Ritchie
• Culture and Recreation - Councillor Richard Short

The new council will set out to deliver value for money, effective and accountable leadership, give people a greater say in dealing with local issues and provide a strong voice for the area in the North West and nationally.

Shadow Authority Leader, Councillor Mike Jones said: "This is an exciting opportunity to create a new council that will be innovative in its approach to delivering quality services to all our residents and visitors in an efficient and effective way.

"On a personal note, I am delighted to have been appointed the first leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council. I am looking forward to the challenge of creating a vibrant organisation and a council of which our residents will be proud."

Deputy Leader, Councillor Les Ford said: "We face a challenging task which will require imaginative input from elected members and staff and much hard work. We will succeed."

The Shadow Authority will set the 2009/10 budget in early spring, but the constituency roles of the new councillors will be restricted, until 1 April, to matters relating to the setting up of the new authority.

Near the top of the agenda will be options for the new council's headquarters location to be considered in June, while a new chief executive is due to be appointed this summer to help guide the transition. The Government has made it clear that the costs of transition must not increase council tax.

Shadow Council meetings will rotate around the office buildings currently used by the city, borough and county councils. Meanwhile the county and district councils will continue to provide local services to residents until 1 April 2009.

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Last modified: 23 May 2008