The Independent Group and Labour have announced they have entered into an agreement which will see them run a shared Cabinet for a fixed term of 12 months until it is replaced with a committee-based system.
The announcement follows the recent elections which resulted in the Topires losing their their majority on Cheshire East Council for the first time since the council was formed in April 2009 - leaving no party with overall control of the council.
The Leader of the Labour Group, Sam Corcoran, will be the new Leader of Cheshire East Council, whilst the Leader of the Independent Group, Craig Browne, will be Deputy Leader of the Council.
The two groups will share the responsibility of running the transition cabinet with Labour taking the majority of the cabinet places after negotiation with the Independent Group. The Conservatives will fulfil the scrutiny function, which oversees how each department operates.
This announcement means the current system where eight Cabinet members run the council will be scrapped and replaced with a committee-based system in May 2020, the start of the next municipal year. The transition agreement with Labour and the Conservatives will then end.
Sam Corcoran, Leader of the Labour Group on Cheshire East Council, said; 'The electors of Cheshire East clearly rejected the previous rotten Conservative administration in the elections on 2nd May. Labour recorded its highest ever number of votes, share of the vote, and the number of Labour councillors elected - 25.
"Therefore, we have put into place a transition arrangement for the governance of the Council for the next twelve months with support of the largest Independent group.
"The agreement with the Independent Group will ensure that services continue to be delivered, provide re-assurance to staff and partners and enable us to start work on delivering Labour's manifesto for Cheshire East, whilst replacing the shambolic Conservative regime that has brought so much discredit and criticism upon Cheshire East Council."
The Leader of the Independent Group, Craig Browne said "We would like to thank the residents of Cheshire East for their votes and for trusting us to deliver the change they so desperately want to see. They gave us 25% of Cheshire East Councillors and with no party in overall control we have had to make the very difficult decision of who will deliver its vital public services AND reform how it is run in the future.
"There are aspects of working with both major parties which give us cause for concern and we have not taken this decision lightly. However, this 12-month agreement is necessary to bring about the vital changes needed to ensure Cheshire East operates in an open and transparent manner for the years to come.
"The transition agreement means we can deliver this change within 12 months. We have asked the Conservatives to act as watchdog over our daily management of the council, but they will not be able to block key reforms.
"We think this is the most sensible way to ensure we deliver key services and the vital changes our voters asked us to introduce."
Photo: Craig Browne and Sam Corcoran.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
If we had chosen the Conservatives, that would have been an immediate betrayal of the people who voted for us.
Wilmslow's voters overwhelmingly voted for RoW and change to the way in which his party arrogantly used Wilmslow as a cash-cow, consistently ignored voters' concerns and ploughed their own myopic path. Things are going to be changing at CEC but it was his Conservatives were not willing to work with the three political groups and the Conservative's undertakings to the Independent group fell short of what was requested to meet the expressed wishes of our voters. In that case it was Labour who agreed with the Independent Group to honour its commitment to change from the Conservative dictatorial Cabinet only system to the open & transparent Committee system (which will be enacted next April/May). It is a matter of trust in the word of the other. It most certainly will not be a pseudo socialist administration, decision making will be shared between the two groups.
Cllr David Jefferay, above, sums the situation you are trying to complain about perfectly adequately.
Not only are you underestimating the resolve of the Independent Group to work first and foremost on behalf of residents but also the integrity of those of us who stood as representatives of Residents of Wilmslow.
As a re-elected RoW Independent Councillor can I re-iterate that this is a transitional cabinet for 12 months only until the new, more open and democratic, committee system of governance is introduced at Cheshire East Council at the earliest date achievable.
In support of residents views across the Borough the Independent Group has been campaigning for this change for 18 months. Leading up to the election residents re-iterated this change is what they wanted - and they meant it - which is why the Conservative Party lost so many seats at the election.
Let us not forget that at the Full Council meeting in February of this year when the Independent Group requested, again, for this change, the Conservative majority once again voted against the Committee system of governance whilst Labour members supported it.
Be assured, there is no binding contract between the Independent Group and Labour for the coming 12 months, the Independent Group will act on what it believes will provide the best possible outcome for residents.
Personally I would hope that both Labour, and the Conservative party, will now undertake to work together with the Independent Group to provide the best service we can for residents.
Given the vastly reduced resources available from Government this is not the time to squabble about politics and who has “control” - it completely misses the point residents have clearly made in the election.
Main headline is Rotten Boroughs, Local Election Special.
Then see CEC Handed. Just read this to understand why the Conservatives were booted out.
They have no defence. It was of their own making - beyond reasonable doubt. They know this but can never admit it to us voters.
Far far better for their remaining Cllrs to work conscientiously and diligently in the best interests of their constituents. Somehow I doubt it. They will continue to blame others and be destructive. Their new leader is already at it. Pathetic frankly.
Its one-plank policy of abolishing the cabinet system and replacing it with the old fashioned “committee system” is a puerile gimmick. And that’s not what “independent voters” voted for. After all the, the cabinet system incorporates about 30 committees (or similar bodies) incorporating opposition councillors pro rata. So how many committees do the opposition councillors want? And are we then going to have 4 years of Westminster-style squabbling and dithering? Heavens forgive! It will divert resources away from the legitimate needs of the electorate and be a further nail in the fragile vessel of Democracy!
I would urge the newly elected councillors to consider their position in the Coaltion Party andreturn to the Real Independent Group in its policy of steady, gradual reform as and when need for the benefit of the people we serve.
You appear confident (some might say arrogant) in your assessment of why the Conservatives failed.
You cite Brexit as the motivator that turned voters away. That may have been a factor nationally but here there were other forces at work.
You conveniently dismiss the failure, mismanagement, misconduct and wasted money that has characterised the recent years of Conservative control at CE.
I’d credit local people with a degree more political savvy if I were you. The new lab / Ind alliance may bring a different flavour to local government, but it surely can’t be as bitter or sour as what we’ve had to endure in recent years.
The fact that large numbers of traditional, die-hard Conservative voters turned away speaks volumes - perhaps local Conservatives will be awoken, and will work to restore their damaged reputations sufficiently to mount a challenge next time around?
So that I can explain a little more clearly for you and all other contributors. ROW won the election (not the Independent Group) in Wilmslow, as I have said I have no objection to this and hope that ROW deliver as promised, a hope they will do well.
You will be unaware that I attended the first ROW stall at the Artisan market, at that time I believed in what ROW stood for, in over 5 hours I spoke to many people who expressed concerns on local issues, however, many mentioned Brexit.
I was going to vote ROW and NOT Conservative - the reason I did not vote and withdrew any interest in ROW was because of their involvement with the Independent Group. In fact, people representing the Independent group (From Bollington) had a stall outside Barclays Bank in Wilmslow protesting against Brexit and promoting Stay, and stating that the people of Wilmslow didn't want Brexit, this was before ROW joined the Independent Group.
Many people submit a protest vote at local elections including Wilmslow I believe the people of Wilmslow may have had a different view if they had known that Labour and the Independent group would be running CEC (albeit for a trial period of 12 months) their vote may have been different and possibly more would have voted for Lib Dems.
Your comments that I conveniently dismissed the failure, mismanagement, misconduct and wasted money that has characterised the recent years of Conservative control at CE. Why should I, isn't that why people voted ROW I don't recall disagreeing to this.
Not all people in Wilmslow are politically savvy as in many more areas
If you still feel I am being arrogant then so be it.