Wilmslow Town Council is currently considering the transfer of several assets and services from Cheshire East Council to their control.
Last September the Cabinet approved a report on local service delivery and the transfer of responsibility for some services and assets from Cheshire East to town and parish councils, starting from April 2012.
Given they were only formed in May 2011, it was decided that negotiations with Wilmslow Town Council would be delayed, with some transfers implemented from April 2013, as they have not had time to consider this policy.
Wilmslow Town Council are now considering the transfer of allotments, the market, planters and hanging baskets.
This is the first phase of an ambitious programme of service and asset transfer, designed to give each town council an increasingly important role in deciding what should be delivered in its locality and how this is best delivered.
A number of other assets, including play areas, footpaths, parks, ponds and ditches, were originally included in the discussions with other towns and villages but Cheshire East has decided not to transfer these at this stage.
The transfer will only cover the Friday market held at Bank Square, not the Artisan Market as this is privately operated. Wilmslow Town Council has agreed to request the licensing powers for markets be transferred to themselves with immediate effect. They will run the market and hope to encourage more traders as there is currently just the fishmongers.
The Town Council also agreed they would take over the planting and maintenance of street planters (not flowerbeds), hanging baskets and Christmas trees. Planters and hanging baskets will be taken on from April 2013 and Wilmslow Town Council will purchase Christmas trees, starting from this year.
Cllr Ruth McNulty advised the full council that the Community & Order Committee recommended a budget of £5000 for the provision and maintenance of hanging baskets and planters with a contingency fund of a further £2,500 for the financial year 2013-14. She also advised that the probable cost of a Christmas tree is £850 per tree including the tree, its erection, dressing, undressing and removal. This cost will have to be included in this year's expenditure as Cheshire East is no longer providing Christmas trees across the borough.
The transfer of allotments is less straightforward and more detail is required before these can be transferred. The sites currently under discussion are located on Cliff Road, Lincoln Road and Land Lane, though it is unclear at this time if the Carnival Field site will be considered. The Town Council will therefore consider the transfer of allotments at a later date when the situation becomes clearer.
This programme aligns with national policy designed to decentralise government and give communities power to make a difference in their area. Further transfer and devolution is planned.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
If,however,CEC is about to transfer any statutory duties,then clearly the Council Tax for Wilmslow should be reduced. Answers,please.
I'm really pleased, in fact one could say that I'm over the moon, that the the responsibility for ponds and ditches will not be troubling our Town Councillors in the near future; I'm sure that they have much more important matters to ponder upon.
Remember when Macclesfield Borough Council blamed Cheshire County Council who, in turn, blamed them? Meanwhile got stuck with the problem.
Here we go again.