Cheshire East in Eye's Rotten Boroughs

Last year, Cheshire East made it three times into the Private Eye's Rotten Boroughs column.

Early this year, we understand it was a dearly held wish that in 2014 they managed to stay out of the infamous column which details waste and much else going wrong in local councils across the land.

The frustration to appear now – just as they almost made it through the year. But then, in the very last column of 2014, they creep in again. We almost have to apologise for bringing it to your attention but we do have to balance all the good news we publish on AudlemOnline from Cheshire East!

In issue 1382 – covering 20th December 2014 to 8th January 2015 – Private Eye says:

"The Tories who run Cheshire East council (CEC) don't appear to have paid much heed to the Chancellor's strictures about sound financial management and the need to rein in spending.

"CEC, which covers much of George Osborne's Tatton constituency, has wasted nearly £3m of local taxpayers' money as a result of shady goings-on that saw a waste transfer station built without planning permission and the job handed to a local contractor without going to tender.

"More than £800,000 was paid to the contractor before a member of staff blew the whistle. The chief executive had to go (pay-off £93,250), then the director of waste services (£45,750), the director of finance (£45,160) and the borough solicitor (£28,861).

"An inquiry was commissioned from a consultant. The report, which has still not been published in full, cost £225,000.

"Since 2011, £1,677,000 has been spent paying a private contractor to provide a temporary waste transfer station. Grand total: £2,915,021.

"As Mr Osborne's council is still paying £43,000 a month for the temporary waste transfer station, the bill will soon have topped £3m. Trebles all round."

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