Coordinates: 53°12′47″N 2°54′07″W / 53.213°N 2.902°W / 53.213; -2.902
Cheshire West and Chester[1][2][3] is a unitary authority area with borough status, [4] in the ceremonial county of Cheshire. It was established in April 2009 as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England, by virtue of an order under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.[5] It replaced the boroughs of Ellesmere Port and Neston, Vale Royal and Chester District and part of the former Cheshire County Council, which was disaggregated between the two new unitary Authorities of Cheshire East and Cheshire West & Chester. The rest of ceremonial Cheshire is composed of Cheshire East, Warrington and Halton. The decision to create the Cheshire West and Chester unitary authority was announced on 25 July 2007 following a consultation period, in which a proposal to create a single Cheshire unitary authority was rejected.[6]
[edit] Politics and administration
The electoral wards for the new unitary authority are the same as those used in the former Cheshire County Council elections, with each ward electing 3 councillors.[7] The first elections to the authority took place on 1 May 2008,[8] with the Conservatives gaining control with a majority of 38 councillors.[9] There are 72 elected councillors in the authority which is currently chaired by councillor John Ebo and led by councillor Mike Jones. The Conservatives have 55 councillors, Labour have 13 and there are 4 Liberal Democrats.[10]
[edit] Council Wards
The District is divided into 24 wards:[11]
- Abbey
- Blacon
- Boughton Heath and Vicars Cross
- Broxton
- Central and Westminster
- City
- Eddisbury
- Frodsham and Helsby
- Gowy
- Grange and Rossmore
- Groves and Whitby
- Hoole and Newton
- Ledsham and Willaston
- Marbury
- Mickle Trafford
- Neston and Parkgate
- Northwich East and Shakerley
- Northwich West
- Overleigh
- Sutton and Manor
- Upton
- Weaver
- Winsford North and East
- Winsford South and West
[edit] References
- ^ Vale Royal Borough Council - Minister's announcement is welcomed
- ^ Chester City Council - Two new councils for Cheshire
- ^ Cheshire West and Chester Council Shadow Authority
- ^ http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/your_council/press_releases/2009_press_releases/april/history_in_the_making.aspx
- ^ Cheshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008
- ^ BBC News, 25 July 2007 - County split into two authorities. Retrieval Date: 25 July, 2007.
- ^ "People and Places" proposed electoral wards. Retrieval Date: 9 August, 2007.
- ^ Proposals for new City of Chester and West Cheshire Local Authority. Chester District website. Retrieval Date: 25 October, 2007.
- ^ Cheshire West and Chester election Results, May 2, 2008
- ^ Members of Cheshire West and Chester District Council Councillors by Party Affiliation Cheshire West and Chester District Council, Accessed April 4, 2009
- ^ Cheshire West and Chester Council Wards Cheshire West and Chester Council, Accessed April 4, 2009
[edit] External links
