Cheshire East's new cabinet

Councillor Michael Jones has been reconfirmed as the Leader of Cheshire East Council.

The Conservative, who represents Bunbury Ward, was formally elected to the post at a meeting of Full Council yesterday, Wednesday, May 27th.

Cllr Jones, who is also the leader of the Conservative Group and Chairman of the Cabinet, has led Cheshire East Council since May, 2012.

He unveiled a new-look Cabinet team, which followed members David Topping and Peter Raynes standing down as Borough councillors and the election of new Conservative members to the authority.

Cllr Jones said: "I am honoured and very proud to have maintained the confidence of not only my party group and the elected council members, but also the people of Cheshire East. It is a privilege to be re-elected to lead Cheshire East Council.

"Cheshire East is in a very good position with a record low-level of unemployment, a strong and growing economy, new businesses establishing in the Borough and massive investment projects under way for roads, infrastructure and the regeneration and revitalisation of our major towns. Things are really on the move in Cheshire East.

"But there is still much to do and this Council will not rest on its laurels or allow for any complacency.

"My Cabinet is essentially the same strong, capable and committed team – but with some talented new recruits, which I have great confidence will continue to deliver for residents.

The Cabinet members are:

• Cllr Michael Jones, Council Leader, Chairman of the Cabinet;
• Cllr David Brown, Deputy Leader, responsible for Highways;
• Cllr Ainsley Arnold, responsible for Housing and Planning;
• Cllr Rachel Bailey, responsible for Children and Families;
• Cllr Janet Clowes, responsible for Adults, Health and Leisure;
• Cllr Paul Findlow, responsible for Performance;
• Cllr Les Gilbert, responsible for Communities;
• Cllr Peter Groves, responsible for Finance and Assets;
• Cllr Don Stockton, responsible for Regeneration and Assets.

Deputy Cabinet members are: Cllr George Hayes – Children and Families; Cllr Stewart Gardiner – Adults, Health and Leisure; Cllr Glen Williams – Communities; Cllr Sam Gardner – Finance and Assets; Cllr Tony Dean – Regeneration and Assets.

Rachel Bailey confirmed as heading Local Plan

In his address, Cllr Jones spoke about planning, saying: "As to the Local Plan, it is clear that we got it wrong on our job growth.

In the middle of a deep recession, 0.4% looked optimistic, but under my leadership, we have retained thousands of jobs, attracted growth and investment and after all Cheshire East is the home of the small business. They have created the lowest unemployment in more than a decade.

"We applaud the Cheshire entrepreneurs and we promise we will support them more. Our growth rate is 0.7%. we are the victims of our own success. Today I thank the good work of my former colleague Peter Raynes and I confirm that Cllr Rachel Bailey will be responsible for taking the Local Plan through to completion.

"However, all planning and housing should be sustainable and we will continue to defend against unplanned and unwanted, unsustainable development. To this we have requested our planning team to review all policies to increase development on brown field sites, infill in our hamlets, where supported, and bring forward sites that have clear advantages to our residents and more 106 monies to reduce impact on our communities.

"We are also announcing that we will hold a series of consultations with residents and developers on our policies to make them resident first as much as possible. These will be under taken through out June and yes, the plan is on time."

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