Cabinet connects with local communities

Cheshire East Council’s cabinet has toured the borough this autumn – meeting local community groups and visiting the newly-appointed Connected Communities centres.

The tour was designed to give cabinet the opportunity to see the results of various projects and initiatives and also get to hear first-hand some of the challenges that people and communities have in their areas.

This autumn cabinet has visited:

● Macclesfield’s Senior Citizens’ Hall;

● Queens Park, Crewe;

● The Georges Community Centre, Crewe and the over-50s club

● The Welcome Café, Knutsford (Connected Communities centre);

● Congleton Town Hall;

● St John’s Church, Weston Estate, Macclesfield (Connected Communities centre); and

● Audlem Village Hall (Connected Communities centre).

Councillor Rachel Bailey, leader of the council, said: “As the team taking decisions on behalf of local communities, it is absolutely vital that we keep in touch with what’s happening on the ground and see where things are working and where there needs to be improvements. 

“Sometimes the decisions are really tough ones – but knowing our communities well and working with them really does make a big difference when it comes to doing the best for everyone living and working in the borough.”

The council set out its Connected Communities Strategy in December 2016. This explains how the vision to make the borough a great place to live, work and visit is linked to how the council will work with communities to ensure that the right services are in the right places.

The council also pledged £150,000 to support the opening of 30 Connected Communities centres across the borough, encouraging local neighbourhood partnerships and community centres to increase the number of services available at their centres and provide a valuable local resource for everyone. Each centre also helps people to access the council’s new ‘Live Well’ community website, where there is information and contact details for a whole host of local groups, support services, leisure and health activities.

The Rev Tim Robinson, of St John’s Church, Weston Estate in Macclesfield, said: “Becoming a Connected Communities centre is already paying dividends.

“Having Cheshire East cabinet hold their meeting at St John’s, and find out what is going on at this local venue and how we are aiming to serve this community, is providing us with confidence to do even more.”

Wishing Well Project general manager Charles Maines said: “We were pleased to welcome Cheshire East cabinet members to The Georges Community Centre in Crewe. It is always good to meet with our councillors and showcase the great work our team do here at Wishing Well.”

Cllr Bailey added: “We would like to say thank you to all those people in our communities who work or volunteer to make local services ‘happen’ – to provide care, support, friendship, health and fun to so many people in our area. It is something which is inspiring to witness and be a part of.”

For more information on the council’s work in communities, including neighbourhood partnerships and the new connected communities centres, visit the council’s website at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/communities or email: Communities@cheshireeast.gov.uk or phone 01270 685880.