Council leader Michael Jones has issued a Easter statement message, in which he urges residents to keep faith with the Tories and promises some major news next week regarding housing plans.
Cllr Michael Jones said "Easter is always such a lovely time – the daffodils are out, children are excited about all the chocolate they'll be given and the summertime is just around the corner. It represents a time of faith and the knowing that things are about to get brighter and, hopefully, better.
"Many of us will go to church over the holidays to think about the deeper meaning of Easter too.
"It is a time for us to be thankful for what the resurrection represents and it's a poignant opportunity to think about our family and future.
"It is also a time to think about our own goals in life. Personally, this will be a time for me to use this short break to revitalise the Council's key goals.
"We will have some major announcements next week on housing as we all know this is a very big issue for our communities.
"I ask that the people of Cheshire East keep faith that the Conservatives will – and are - delivering the very best for our communities.
"Voting for UKIP is a vote for Labour, a party that would like to see an extra 200,000 homes in our communities built each year – yes! Each year!
"That would mean Cheshire East Council taking on some of Manchester's housing quota which would be a disaster.
"So, voting UKIP or Labour means you are voting for unprecedented concrete across our countryside.
"That is something none of us here in Cheshire East want, so I promise I will personally deliver and fight for what is right for the people of Cheshire East."
Share your views on Cllr Michael Jones' Easter message using the comment box below.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Actions Mr Jones, actions please. And don't use the Easter message to promote your politics. Your job is secular and remember not all your residents are Christians. Leave that to HM The Queen at Christmas and the AB of Canterbury. I'm sure that you have just lost the conservative party some more votes. Wait 'til our MP gets to hear about it.
He will be absolutely outraged, as I am - also deeply saddened that you should stoop so low. There are other Faiths that dwell in the land of Cheshire East. Don't they matter too?
Pompous ..deceitful ...out of touch ,, misuse of language ..there are many more but I wouldn't be surprised if there is an increase in the protest vote !
Obviously, normal service will be resumed once he gets these pesky elections out of the way. Then he can ignore us again for another 5 years.
Carefully check out candidates in all coming elections to ensure you vote for the one who closest represents your hopes.
Jesus died for us. Therefore we can be set free to get on with living our lives to the full, without being overburdened by past faults. That is what the resurrection represents.
Labour does plan to build 200,000 new homes a year, but Labour would give powers to local authorities to build the houses where they are needed, with appropriate infrastructure. The Conservatives are letting developers build houses wherever it makes most money for the landowners/developers.
The nation does need to build more houses, but they don't all need to be built in Sandbach or Wilmslow. Stoke actually want to develop their brownfield sites, but for some reason Cheshire East Council has done a deal with High Peak Council to take some of their housing requirement, but hasn't done a deal with Stoke Council for them to take some of our housing requirement. Such a deal would protect Cheshire's greenfields and develop Stoke's brownfield sites, but the Conservatives on Cheshire East Council say NO.
When he rids himself of his bloated ego and seeks to SERVE those who elected him,then he can talk about Easter, a period of renewal and sacrifice for the lowly, poor and marginalised.
We do not want our council to get involved in land deals and forming 'arms length' private companies they risk losing OUR money as has happened in other boroughs that have taken a similar route. CEC owe an enormous amount in borrowings already. Just give us the level of service we pay for and expect and DO NOT build on Cheshire Fields. Its not a lot to ask.
George's days at number 11 are numbered. Remember when the boundaries were going to change and Tatton was to be done away with. He quietly sold his home up here faster than you could say GONE. No allegiance to Cheshire then. So why should we show any to him now.
UKIP will be our protest vote and who knows given half a chance they might just give us what we ask of them.
"On 17 April 2014 as Leader of the Council I issued an Easter Message which by mistake contained political statements and which I fully acknowledge should not have been issued by or linked to the Council. The words in question were only ever intended to be issued by me personally and I apologise to the public, the Council and all elected members for any harm that this error may have caused. I accept full responsibility for the issue of this statement and as Leader I have taken steps to tighten up the processes to ensure that a similar error could not be repeated in the future."
------
The first relates to Councillor Jones
My complaint is as follows
1) Councillor Jones appears to have broken the members code of conduct on a least one or more accounts in issuing this statement
2) Councillor Jones may have broken purdah (European Parliament elections)
I understand that Councillor Jones has already made some form of apology but I am unsure if that alone is sufficient for the errors I believe he may have made.
Please investigate and confirm if Councillor Jones is guilty of the above; why he is guilty; how he broke the members code; how he broke purdah and what action is required of him.
-------
The second relates to Council officers
This is the second of two complaints I am making to Cheshire East relating to the issue of an Easter Statement / Message by Councillor Michael Jones.
This complaint relates to the role that any officer may have had to do with it. Please investigate if any council employee (ie officer) was involved in issuing or drafting the message and how it managed to be issued. when it clearly should not have been. What procedures were not met and how have they been tightened up to prevent it happening again?