LIBRARY SAVED - PLANNED CLOSURE REVERSED BY CEC

I am absolutely delighted to announce that the proposed closure of Alderley Edge Library has been dropped by Cheshire East Council. This decision follows my recent campaign, residents' feedback on the pre-budget consultation, a petition carried out by local school children and more than 50 local people offering to help as volunteers to keep the library open. It is proposed that the library will remain open for five half-days per week, allowing CEC to reduce costs by paying for lunchtime cover for regular staff. This is extremely good news, but we all have a responsibility now to use our library as much and as often as possible to ensure that it is not placed under threat again in future.

PLANNED ROADWORKS

Works are planned at the following locations over the coming days, please allow extra time for your journey and take care if you are in the area on foot:

- Congleton Road - gas leak repair - two way signals in place until 31st January

- Macclesfield Road - BT carrying out repair work - two way signals in place on 7th Feb

- Wilmslow Road - CE Highways resurfacing - road closure between 19th to 23rd Feb

SPEEDWATCH RESULTS - JANUARY

Our team of speedwatch volunteers were out and about on Thursday morning, this time on Brook Lane. A total of 47 vehicles were recorded of which:

- 28 vehicles were recorded between 36mph and 39mph
- 18 vehicles were recorded between 40mph and 49mph
- 1 vehicle was recorded at a staggering 55mph and made no attempt to slow

The average speed recorded during the session was 39.64mph, whereas the speed limit at this location is just 30mph. The drivers will receive a written warning from the police.

Our next session will be on 15th February at 10am.

LIBRARY PETITION GAINS OVER 600 SIGNATURES

This afternoon it was a pleasure to meet Alice & Iris, two pupils at Alderley Edge Community Primary School who have been working on a petition to keep the library open. Between them, they have collected over 600 signatures, from their friends at Alderley Edge Community Primary School, Alderley Edge School for Girls, Alderley Edge Brownies & Guides, Sue Morris School of Ballet, Rainbows & Nether Alderley Primary School. This has been an amazing effort from two of the youngest members of our community and I would like to say a huge thank you and well done to them. I will now be handing their petition over to the Portfolio Holder, Cllr Liz Wardlaw, who will make her recommendation to Cabinet on Tuesday 6th February. If any resident of the village would like to attend Cabinet, or the meeting of Full Council on Thursday 22nd February, please let me know.

COMMUNITY SURGERY - JANUARY

I am pleased to confirm that my next community surgery will take place on Saturday 27th January at Aldeli, starting at 10am. Do come and join me for a coffee and a chat about any community issues that may be causing you concern. I look forward to seeing you then.

DISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATIONS COST CEC £720,000

Following a question tabled by the independent group at the December Council Meeting, it has now been revealed that the total cost to Cheshire East Council of the current disciplinary investigations is estimated at £720,000. This figure, which equates to the funds needed to keep Alderley Edge Library open for the next ten years, includes:
- external investigators and temporary staffing arrangements £110,000
- suspension payments and acting-up allowances £346,000
- resignation of Director of Legal Services & Monitoring Officer £264,000

PROPOSED LIBRARY CLOSURE - MY RESPONSE TO CEC

I am writing to respond to the Pre-Budget Consultation (2018/19) and in particular, the proposal to close Alderley Edge Library at a saving of £72,000 to Cheshire East Council. Whilst I fully appreciate the pressure local authorities are under, following the reduction and eventual removal of the Revenue Support Grant from central government, I cannot help but feel that closing public libraries to achieve a relatively insignificant cost saving, would be a retrograde step. I am mindful of the words of the C19th philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, who commented that “there is not such a cradle of democracy as the free public library. A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people and it is a never failing spring in the desert”.

The building used by Alderley Edge Library is available to Cheshire East Council at a peppercorn rent and there is also a covenant in place, registered by Alderley Edge Parish Council in 2001, which prevents the building being used for any purpose other than as a public lending library or associated Cheshire (East) County Council service until after the year 2050. I am pleased to attach a copy of this covenant with my consultation response. This being the case, the community of Alderley Edge, led by the Parish Council and myself as the Ward Councillor, have been considering how we might help Cheshire East Council reverse its initial proposal and keep Alderley Edge Library open at a reduced cost.

In response to my public call for support, approximately 35 residents (one of whom is a qualified, retired librarian) have already come forward to offer their time as volunteers; therefore our proposal is that they are prepared to support one full-time or two part-time paid members of staff (rather than the current three members of staff). This would enable the library to remain open, preferably with extended hours, but with a smaller cost to the Council’s staffing budget than is currently the case. With this number of volunteers, each individual volunteer’s commitment would be no more than an average of three hours per month, which is both realistic and achievable. As Ward Councillor, I am prepared to lead by example and give an hour a week of my own time.

A longer term aspiration, is that a smaller group of these residents come together and set up a legal entity, such as a Community Interest Company, Company Limited by Guarantee, or Registered Charity, which could take over the running of the asset from Cheshire East Council; however, setting up the legal entity, establishing a Board of Trustees or Directors, developing a viable business plan and seeking the necessary funding from third party (potentially charitable) sources, as well as training volunteers to offer the services that would need to be delivered from the library, is not something that could be achieved between now and 1st April and in all probability, would take a minimum of two to three years to set up.

There is a role that Cheshire East Council might play in supporting such a transition; for example, providing legal advice on the setting up of a CIC etc, as well as providing training to the potential volunteers on how to support the librarian in delivering certain library services. Such volunteers would also need DBS clearance and some form of health & safety/first aid training, which again, Cheshire East Council could provide. I hope the leadership of the Council will recognise this proposal as a positive response from the residents of Alderley Edge, to a challenging situation and will support it accordingly. Full details of the list of volunteers can be provided on request

LAND AT 2A BROOKSIDE - APPEAL DISMISSED

I am pleased to confirm that this application for the erection of a contemporary dwelling and associated works in the garden of Brookside Villas, has been dismissed on appeal. Along with a group of residents and representatives from the Edge Association, as well as officers from Cheshire East Council, I attended and spoke at an appeal hearing held at Macclesfield Town Hall on 29th November. The inspector concluded that "taken overall the proposal would harm the protected trees on the site, the area’s character and appearance and the setting of the locally listed building". The application was a re-submission of application 16/2142M which had also been refused by Cheshire East Council.

BUBBLE ROOM - CHARITY OF THE MONTH (FEBRUARY)

I am delighted to share the news that in response to the proposed funding cut by Cheshire East Council, the Bubble Room have very kindly stepped in and made the Alderley Edge (RVS) Luncheon Club their "Charity of the Month" for February - this means that 50p from every Pink Martini cocktail consumed at their bar in Alderley Edge or in Bramhall during that month, will be donated to the Luncheon Club. They are also exploring ways of making a food donation. Can I take this opportunity to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Emma and her team, on behalf of the community of Alderley Edge and on behalf of the members and volunteers at the Luncheon Club. I'm not sure being seen with a Pink Martini in hand will do much for my image, but on this occasion I'm prepared to make an exception!

MEET OUR NEW LENGTHSMAN

I am pleased to introduce Paul Redwood, who has recently become our new Parish Lengthsman. Paul will be carrying out certain tasks around the village, including footpath sweeping, litter picking, weeding the flower beds in the park, cutting back hedges and cleaning the village signage. One of Paul’s first tasks, has been to cut back the overgrown hedge on Chorley Hall Lane railway bridge. I am sure Paul will become a much recognised figure around the village and hope everyone will give him a warm welcome.