Cheshire considers cuts in meetings

Cost-cutting councillors could have fewer meetings to attend if a shake-up in the Cheshire East calendar gets the green light.

A report to Cheshire East Council points out the benefits of cutting down on the number of meetings councillors attend each year.

It would give councillors more time in their constituencies, officers could get on with other work and cash savings could be made from printing and posting fewer agendas and in paying out less in mileage allowances.

The report to the council's Constitution Committee adds: "In these austere times it is appropriate to challenge historical assumptions in respect of the frequency of meetings."

But officials warn that cutting the number of meetings could also lead to bigger agendas, longer meetings and potential delays in making important decisions.

Cheshire East councillors currently hold about 250 formal decision-making meetings each year as well as another 30 policy-making meetings and about 10 special or emergency meetings.

Council officers have checked out the calendars of 23 similar councils to compare their annual meeting schedules.

They found Cheshire East has six meetings a year of the full council against an average eight in other local authorities.

But Cheshire East holds 13 cabinet meeting against an average 10 and it is in the top six for the number of planning and licensing committee meetings, with 46 in any one year.

Councillors are to be asked if they think the frequency of council meeting should be reviewed in the light of the latest comparative figures.

The report to councillors adds: "Whilst every local authority must ensure that members meet frequently enough to make timely decisions, there should not be an assumption that the frequencies of meetings, which have applied since the authority was created, should continue to apply."

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.