Make ‘Stoptober’ the right time to quit smoking!

 

Cheshire East Council is backing a health campaign to help smokers quit the habit.

The ‘Stoptober’ initiative this October aims to support people to give up tobacco – as it is still the most preventable cause of illnesses.

The return of the successful ‘Stoptober’ campaign is a 28-day challenge that encourages as many smokers as possible to quit. 

Being ‘smoke free’ for 28 days means you are FIVE times more likely to stop for good – a positive step for both your health and your wallet.

Within Cheshire East smoking costs the economy approximately £73.7m a year. This includes: smoking breaks, which see a loss of £28m; and £5m due to sick days.

Smoking-related illnesses in Cheshire East costs the local NHS approximately £10.2m per year to treat.

Cheshire East Council is 100 per cent behind the campaign and will be promoting it throughout October. 

Councillor Janet Clowes, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member in charge of care and health in the community, said: “If you are a smoker, reducing – or better still, giving up – smoking is still the single-most-important factor in improving your health and wellbeing.

“By encouraging people to give up smoking, with advice and support, the Council’s health professionals hope to reduce smoking levels across the Borough and improve health, not only for smokers but also for their close families who may be breathing in other people’s tobacco smoke in homes and vehicles.

“Not everyone realises the health-damaging consequences that tobacco-smoke exposure can cause – or, more importantly, that this damage is preventable. We want to help people to help themselves to a better quality of life – living better for longer.”

Dr Heather Grimbaldeston, director of public health for Cheshire East, said: “Tobacco use still remains the biggest cause of early death and disease within the UK and throughout the world.

“The costs of tobacco use are significant for individuals, local employers and the economy. Tobacco use and poverty are inextricably linked. Campaigns like ‘Stoptober’ are very beneficial in improving the public’s health – encouraging smokers to quit and make others aware of the risks associated with tobacco use.”

If you feel ready to take on the challenge you can join Stoptober by signing up at smokefree.nhs.uk/stoptober – where you can access different resources all designed to keep you motivated and on track during your quit attempt.

Cheshire East Stop Smoking and Harm Reduction Service ‘Kickstart’ offers free one-to-one support and clinics are available throughout Cheshire East. 

If you want to quit smoking and would like further information please contact:

‘Kickstart’ stop smoking and harm reduction service on 0800 085 8818. You can also visit them at www.kickstartcheshire.co.uk

Alternatively, visit the Council’s website on www.cheshireeast.gov.uk

Cheshire East Council backs search to find best new businesses

 

Cheshire East Council is backing the annual South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards as part of a broader business support programme.

The Council is sponsoring the best start-up business of the year category, for firms in their first two years of trading.

Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “We are proud to sponsor these awards and especially to do our bit in helping people who have recently started their own businesses to get the recognition they deserve.

“We recognise the importance of promoting and supporting local business and enterprise. The contribution of new and pioneering businesses to the wealth and diversity of trade across Cheshire is invaluable. It is these success stories that attract and encourage existing businesses to keep striving for greater success.”

Cheshire East Council is one of a prestigious line up of sponsors, who also include Bentley Motors, Manchester Metropolitan University and RBS Corporate Banking.

The deadline for entries is November 7, 2014 and the awards will be presented on November 28 at a black tie dinner at Crewe Hall Hotel.

More details, including how to nominate businesses for the awards, can be found at http://www.sccci.co.uk/portal/event/214/south-cheshire-chamber-business-awards-2014/

Cheshire East entrants scoop community pride awards

 

People and places in Cheshire East were honoured at the 2014 Cheshire Community Pride Awards.

Sandbach won the Championship Award and was named Best Kept Market Town (population 10,001 - 30,000). Knutsford came second and Nantwich and Congleton were joint third.

There was more joy for Sandbach when Sandbach Park and Sandbach Town Council’s Tidy Town Group won the Les George OBE Memorial Award for the best playing field and the Sensory Garden at Sandbach Park received the Little Gem Award.

Hall Bank Playing Field, Mobberley, was highly commended in the playing field category.

Sandbach’s awards were collected by Gill Merry, Susan Doughty and Jennie Haines.

Ann Banks, Sandbach Town Clerk, said: “Well done to everyone involved, who I know have worked so hard throughout the year.”

In the best kept village category (population 1,001 - 2,500), Audlem was the winner and Rainow came second. Pickmere won the category for places with between 601 and 1,000 people and Lower Withington, near Macclesfield, came third among those with 401 to 600. For places with fewer than 400 people, the winner was Hankelow, while Marbury cum Quoisley came second and Marton third.

Church Minshull won the community spirit award for places with a population of up to 5,000.

Poynton with Worth won the town category for the best community website while the village award went to Audlem, with Willaston coming runner-up. Knutsford and Plumley with Toft and Bexton were highly commended.

Poynton Contact Drop In won the award for work with young people.Rainow was highly commended in the category for the best community newsletter. Pickmere Community Group won the community initiative award and Disley’s First World War commemoration was highly commended. Kerry Bannon, of Church Minshull, was highly commended in the community champion award.

Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “This is very welcome recognition for people who go the extra mile to make our communities in Cheshire East such great places to live. I congratulate all the award winners.”

The annual Cheshire Community Pride Awards are run by Cheshire Community Action and sponsored by Essar Oil UK.

Tatton Park hosts First World War Commemorative Play

 

Tatton Park is set to play host to a production of the highly acclaimed play Silent Night – a moving tribute to the people of Cheshire on the Western Front and at home.

Written by Helen Newell, it is being produced by Theatre in the Quarter, Chester’s leading professional theatre company in partnership with Cheshire East Council.

The event is being put on as part of the Council’s four year programme of activities, events and development programmes to commemorate the First World War, called Cheshire East Reflects.

The play depicts the incredible story of the Christmas Eve truce of 1914, told through the experiences of a group of Cheshire soldiers and the families left behind.

Councillor Les Gilbert, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member in charge of localism and enforcement said: “The people of Cheshire made a significant contribution to the war and I urge residents to get behind the play and go and see it as a means of paying remembrance and respect. It’s sure to be a fantastic performance in a quite majestic location.”

There are two performances being held in the Tenants’ Hall, at Tatton Park, on Tuesday, November 11.

The first is a performance for school children, Year 6 and upwards at 1pm. It is free to attend but bookings need to be made with Jocelyn McMillan, cultural economy development manager.

Several schools have already been in touch to register an interest in taking pupils along to watch this one-off production at Tatton Park. Contact Jocelyn by email at Jocelyn.mcmillan@cheshireeast.gov.uk or phone 01270 686090.

The second public performance starts at 7.30pm and is open to anyone, although there are only 300 seats and these are sure to sell out quickly.

Tickets are 8 (£6 concessions) and are available from Tatton Park booking office on 01625 374400.

For further information on Cheshire East Reflects go to www.cheshireeastreflects.com and for the production please visit: www.theatreinthequater.co.uk

Parking still ‘free after three’ in Crewe

 

Motorists can still park “free after three” in Crewe town centre, thanks to an initiative by Cheshire East Council.

There is no charge to park after 3pm in Council-owned Oak Street car park, which has 127 spaces.

The special offer began in mid-September, when a similar offer at the Market Centre car park came to an end. Motorists who park for three hours will save £2.10.

Councillor David Topping, Cheshire East’s Cabinet member for service commissioning, said: “We took this step to support shops and businesses in the town centre which have to compete with out of town retail parks where parking is free.

“We hope this offer will give a valuable boost to town centre trade during the all-important pre-Christmas shopping period.”

Cheshire Fire And Rescue Service October 2014 E-Newsletter

Welcome to the October edition of the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service e-Newsletter.

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Have your say on our draft plans for 2015/16

The twelve week consultation on the draft Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) for 2015/16 is now underway and will last until Wednesday 31 December. During this time the Service will consult with the public, key partners and stakeholders and members of staff.
The draft 2015/16 Plan proposes to continue with the emergency response programme outlined in previous IRMPs (IRMP 10 and IRMP 11 ) which has previously been consulted upon.
Please take a few minutes to have your say and complete the online consultation survey.
Find out more - Have your say on our draft plans for 2015/16

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Annual Report 2014

Cheshire Fire Authority has now published an annual report for Warrington, Halton, Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester. The annual report is a comprehensive report on our activities throughout 2013/14.
The Annual Report will be distributed to homes in Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton and Warrington during the next few weeks.
Find out more - Annual Report 2014

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It’s been a busy month for Awards

Throughout the last month Service personnel have received three national awards.
Fire Service road safety champion honoured
Lifesaving Nantwich firefighters win national award
Road safety champion honoured for a lifetime's work

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Change your clocks and check your smoke alarms

Cheshire residents are being urged to check their smoke alarms as they prepare to turn the clocks back.
The clocks go back at 2.00am on Sunday 26 October and as summer time officially ends, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is asking people to prepare for the autumn and winter by checking their smoke alarms.
Find out more - Change your clocks and check your smoke alarms

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Bonfire night

Stay safe on Bonfire Night by going to an organised bonfire or fireworks display - most injuries occur when people hold their own bonfire parties.
If you plan to have fireworks at home, please use them properly by following the firework code.
Please use the link below to view a list of organised bonfire/fireworks displays in Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton and Warrington.
View a list of organised bonfires

Bonfire Night safety tips from Fireman Sam

Follow Fireman Sam's top 10 safety tips to make sure you have a safe Bonfire night.
Here's a fun way to make sure your family is safe on Bonfire Night - watch this series of videos to take some tips from Fireman Sam.
Watch the Bonfire Night safety tips from Fireman Sam

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Road safety

Every year we attend hundreds of road traffic collisions, rescuing drivers and their passengers and providing emergency first aid and trauma care.  We want you to be safe when driving so we promote and support driver engagement events throughout the year.
Over the next few weeks we will be taking part in winter driving events and supporting the Department for Transport’s Think! Campaign.

Winter driving events 2014

Cheshire firefighters will be out and about around the county, offering drivers the chance to have their cars checked before the colder weather sets in. Along with partner agencies, firefighters will be carrying out free safety checks on cars as part of their continuing campaign for safer roads in Cheshire.
Find out more - winter driving events

Country roads - deadlier than you THINK!

A new THINK! campaign launched on 9th October 2014 warns drivers of the dangers of country roads, using the strapline:

'brake before the bend, not on it’

60% of all fatalities occur on country roads. These roads often  have sharp bends, blind bends and unexpected hazards. So brake before the bend to give yourself time to react and stay in control.
Find out more - Country roads - deadlier than you THINK

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Could you be an on-call firefighter in Winsford?

We are inviting anyone who wants to see if they've got what it takes to be a firefighter to come along to two taster events in Winsford.
The events will give potential applicants the opportunitiy to meet full-time and on-call crews, as well as training and recruitment officers, who will explain exactly how to follow the recruitment process.
They will also be able to try out the physical tests in the brand new recruitment pod, a bespoke test unit housing the elements needed for the national firefighter recruitment tests.
Find out more - Could you be an on-call firefighter in Winsford?

Libraries scheme to boost mental health proves a ‘bestseller’ in Cheshire East

 

Cheshire East libraries have proved a major success at helping support people with mental health issues.

The ground-breaking Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme has seen a more than doubling in the number of self-help books being borrowed by people in Cheshire East suffering mental health issues.

The news was announced today for World Mental Health Day.

Cheshire East libraries issued an impressive 3,259 titles under the ‘books on prescription’ scheme during the period June 2013 to May 2014. This is a 62.5 per cent increase on the 1,223 titles loaned in the previous year.

The three most popular titles (in order) were: Mind Over Mood; Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway; and Overcoming Anxiety.

Councillor Janet Clowes, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member in charge of care and health in the community, said: “It is really helpful to know that these resources, which have been fully accredited by the appropriate medical authorities, are available for free from public libraries.

“The scheme can support early intervention to improve mental health wellbeing as well as be offered alongside medication or other psychological interventions. It can also offer support while people are waiting for treatment – or following treatment.

“This extends the flexibility of support available. It is also about empowering and informing people, which is so important.”

Launched in June 2013, the first nationwide books-on-prescription scheme in England has reached around 275,000 people with book-based therapy for common mental health conditions available from public libraries.

Cheshire East Council’s libraries service stocks a wide selection of titles ranging from overcoming depression, how to stop worrying and overcoming low self-esteem.

Evidence shows that self-help reading can benefit people with certain mental health conditions, around three-quarters of people surveyed said their book had helped them understand more about their condition and feel more confident about managing their symptoms.

The scheme has played an important role in helping to meet the huge need for mental health support. Recent figures indicate there are around eight million people in England suffering from anxiety or depression alone and three-quarters of this group may not be receiving treatment.

GPs and health professionals can prescribe books but they are also available for anyone to borrow from their local library. While there are around 7,000 prescribers using the scheme nationally, 80 per cent of people who borrowed a book had self-referred by picking up a leaflet, often in their local library.

All the evidence suggests it has helped people suffering metal health problems. In a recent survey, nearly everyone who had borrowed a book from the Reading Well Books on Prescription core list of 30 titles said it had been helpful.

Carole, a Reading Well Books on Prescription user, said: “It was really useful to take the book home and work on it in my own time. The fact that it got me doing some of the exploration and understanding work made me feel as if I’d got some control back.

“I found myself looking forward to reading it. The library staff were wonderful. While I was there, I mentioned I was in the dark ages with my computer skills. The librarian signed me up to classes there and then.”

Improved confidence around managing symptoms was also reported by nearly all of the GPs and health professionals, surveyed nationally, who had prescribed books from the list, while just under half felt the scheme had saved them consultation time. 

Following the success of Reading Well Books on Prescription for common mental health conditions, a new dementia scheme will be launched in libraries in January 2015.

Councillor David Brown, Deputy Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “Libraries are an important resource in all communities, providing trusted, safe and valued places where people can find information and advice that can help them in so many areas of their lives.

“It’s really great news to learn that library book loans in this important and innovative scheme have more than doubled and I look forward to more success with the reading scheme in 2015.”

Council-backed reading scheme sets new record

 

A Council-backed summer reading challenge has set a new record for the number of children taking part – for the second year running.

The year’s theme of Mythical Maze captured imaginations and sparked a huge range of spin-off activities for kids including storytelling, crafts, parachute games and animal handling.

Cheshire East libraries got more volunteers, more children attending events and more schools actively involved.

Of those children who started the challenge, 62% completed it, which is 3% more than in 2013.

While all libraries did a superb job, Middlewich gets a special mention for an increase of 41% in starters over 2013 and a staggering 52% increase in completers.

The libraries recruited and trained 72 volunteers this year, of whom 48 were 24 years old or younger. These dedicated volunteers gave a total of almost 2,000 hours to the libraries over the summer.

The national scheme, coordinated by The Reading Agency, ran from July to September and was designed for children aged four to 11.

Councillor David Brown, Deputy Leader of Cheshire East Council and Cabinet member in charge of libraries, said: “We were really pleased to support the national summer reading challenge in our libraries and delighted at the record success of this year’s scheme

“It is really encouraging to see that each year it gets more and more popular with children and parents. The key is that it really catches children’s imagination, keeps them amused and makes reading fun.

“The number of children who attended library events also increased to 4,002, from 3,625 in 2013 and 2,492 in 2012. This is great news and testament to the passion and dedication of our libraries staff.”

Research shows that taking part in the summer reading scheme can help prevent a dip in reading motivation and attainment, so common over the summer holidays.

Partnerships with local schools, parents and carers is important to the success of the scheme and Cheshire East library staff visited 68 primary schools – up from 66 last year.

Library staff and volunteers then spend time talking to the children about their book choices and the children are given incentives to encourage them to carry on reading.

In September, medals and certificates were awarded to all those who completed the challenge at ceremonies attended by councillors, MPs and local VIPs.

Payback time for benefit fraudster

 

A woman who fraudulently claimed nearly £12,000 in benefits will have to pay back every penny after she was caught and prosecuted by Cheshire East Council.

Sylvia Hatchard, 64, declared that she was a single person on a low income when she claimed £11,763.30 in Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Pension Credit, starting in March 2012.

But investigators from Cheshire East Council’s benefit investigations team found that she was not entitled to the money because her husband was living with her and had supported the household financially all the time she was claiming.

Hatchard, of Kendal Road, Macclesfield, admitted two charges of dishonestly making false claims when she appeared before South and East Cheshire Magistrates’ Court.

The prosecution was brought by Cheshire East Council’s legal team.

Magistrates imposed a three-month curfew on Hatchard between the hours of 7pm and 7am and ordered her to pay £695 in prosecution costs and a £60 victim surcharge. 

In addition, Hatchard will have to repay all the money she fraudulently obtained from Cheshire East Council and the Pension Service.

Peter Raynes, Cheshire East Council’s Cabinet member for finance, said: “By claiming benefits they are not entitled to, fraudsters take money away from people who really need help. The message is clear: Cheshire East Council will track them down, prosecute them and ensure they do not profit from their crimes.”

Residents can report people they suspect of benefit fraud by calling free on the confidential fraud hotline number 0800 389 2787. There is no need to give a name and calls are treated in the strictest confidence.

Alternatively, suspected fraud can be reported through the Council’s website at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk

Cheshire East Council ‘dementia friendly’ campaign inspires volunteers across the borough

 

More than 1,600 people across Cheshire East have rallied to the call to become ‘Dementia Friends’ since the national campaign was launched in the borough by Coronation Street actress Judy Holt in June.

The campaign is about recruiting and training people to spot the tell-tale signs of dementia among family and work colleagues so that help and support can be delivered at an early stage.

The call to action by Cheshire East Council has prompted businesses all over the borough to appoint Dementia Friends Champions and since the launch at Tatton Park over 80 people have come forward to be trained with more training sessions in the pipeline.

In partnership with the Dementia Action Alliance and the Alzheimer’s Society, Cheshire East Council has become the first local authority in the region to appoint a full-time Dementia Project Co-ordinator, an indication of just how seriously the Council regards the urgency of the problem and how well the people of the borough have responded.

The coordinator will drive forward the campaign and the message to employers, organisations and local communities that dementia is a slowly-developing and life-changing condition that can develop in men and women of all age groups and not just the older person.

Judy Holt, also starring in the police drama Scott and Bailey, became a champion of the national campaign to create awareness of dementia following her role as Lesley Kershaw in The Street.

She said:

“I am so pleased that so many people and organisations in Cheshire East are responding to the call to be a part of such an important campaign aimed at supporting people with dementia and to spot the early signs of this dreadful disease. I would appeal for more people to come forward to volunteer as Dementia Friends.”

The Leader of Cheshire East Council, Councillor Michael Jones, said: “Within three months of launching this campaign we have over 1,600 people who have volunteered to help others by being trained to spot the tell-tale signs of dementia, a cruel disease.

“We want to promote a concerted community effort to support individuals with dementia, spot the give-away signs and lead organisations and businesses towards a Corporate Social Responsibility policy which involves them in a developing a support network to help those with dementia or showing early signs of dementia.”

Since the Council launched its Dementia Awareness event, 80 people have been trained as Dementia Champions.  They are volunteers who have agreed to drive forward the message within their workplace or community.

Councillor Jones added: “Yes, we need many more volunteers but I am so proud of those people who have already come forward and cannot thank them enough.”

For more information please log on to: www.dementiafriends.org.uk/Home/About

MP refuses to act so Councillor goes direct to Minister

 

Willaston and Rope Ward UKIP Councillor asked his MP, Edward Timpson, to take up his complaint that the Leader of Cheshire East Council instructed the Council’s media team to issue a political press release, which is contrary to the law. (See below) He said, ”The Council’s Monitoring Officer declined to take action so I asked Edward Timpson to take it up with the Secretary of State. The MP has not responded so I can only assume that he condones the law breaking by Cllr Jones. I have now written to Department for Communities and Local Government Minister  to ask him to take action. The Minister is already taking action against other Councils for making political statements. (See below in red)

Cllr Brian Silvester BA (Hons)

Leader of the UK Independence Party Group

Willaston and Rope Ward Councillor

Cheshire East Council

11 Rimsdale Close

Rope,Crewe

CW2 6RS

Tel/fax 01270 567757

Text     07760147609

www.twitter.com/cllrbsilvester

www.facebook.com/CllrBrianSilvester

Success for Seahorse Swimmers

 

Seahorse Swimming Club were overall winners at the recent Halliwick Regional Gala held at Crewe Baths, which saw Seahorse competing against two other North West clubs - Sailfin ( Sale ) and Aquadis ( Ellesmere Port ). The gala turned out to be a close contest with Seahorse winning 12 medals - six gold, five silver and one bronze.

Cheshire East Coucil's Deputy Mayor, Councillor Hilda Gaddum presented the medals and trophies to the winners. She was pleased to attend the gala and thrilled to see the swimmers competing with so much determination and enthusiasm. She congratulated everyone who took part, and praised the event organisers and officials from the clubs for their work.

Seahorse members who won medals:

League Relay Bronze: Paul Edwards, Neil Jones, Sean Savage

Girls 25m Gold: Erin Yoxall

Boys 25m Silver: Sam Foster

Mens 25m Silver: Ben Triner

Girls 50m Gold: Rose Borowski

Boys 50m Silver: Shea Dutton

Mens 50m Gold: Neil Jones

Girls 100m Gold: Amy Halfpenny

Boys 100m Gold: Brandon Halfpenny

Mens 100m Silver: Ben Triner

Junior Relay Gold: Shea Dutton, Sam Foster, Amy Halfpenny, Colette Tyer

Senior Relay Silver: Paul Edwards, Neil Jones, Sean Savage, Ben Triner

Regards

Gareth Roberts

Secretary, Seahorse Swimming Club

Picture  Seahorse swimmers presented with trophy by Cheshire East Deputy, Councillor Mayor Hilda Gaddum, as overall winners 

Cheshire East hosts national conference to tackle challenges around adoption

 

Experts from the full spectrum of adoption services in England gather in Crewe next week (Monday) for a high-profile conference, hosted by Cheshire East Council.

Children’s Minister Edward Timpson MP will give a keynote speech to delegates attending the event at Crewe Hall Hotel, Crewe on Monday October 6^th, 2014.

As a young boy, the Minister had a unique insight into adoption and the care system because his parents John and Alex Timpson fostered over 90 children and formally adopted two.

Dealing with challenging behaviour, relationships, family pressures and emotional support are many of the concerns and issues that adoptive parents and birth families can face.

The conference will hear from a range of experts who will highlight the need for all agencies and local authority services to have a robust support network in place in order that the adoption process can operate more smoothly and quickly, with follow up support for families and adopted and birth children.

Among the speakers will be author, blogger and columnist Sally Donovan, an adoptive parent and Hugh Thornbery, Chief Executive of Adoption UK.

The conference will discuss how local authorities and voluntary adoption agencies need to have robust support programmes in place to secure successful adoption placements and that support services are essential in that process.

Councillor Rachel Bailey, Cheshire East Council Portfolio holder for Safeguarding Children and Adults said:

“This conference, the first of its kind in the North West, brings together professionals and adoptive parents from across England to secure and deliver those services which will improve the lives of adopted children and their families.

“In Cheshire East we are fortunate to have a small but highly successful and innovative adoption support team who together with partners in Four4adoption, provide much needed support to families often at crisis point as well as to the birth families and other relatives, assisting them to come to terms with adoption and to move forward.

Those attending and speaking include:

Professor Julie Selwyn University of Bristol

Sally Donovan, author, adoptive parent and columnist

Professor David Shemmings University of Kent

Rob James, Brynllywarch Hall School

Julia Brown, Founder and Joint CEO FASD Trust

Hugh Thornbery, Chief Executive Adoption UK

Cheshire East lays on breakfast and advice on business finance

 

Business people can get impartial, expert advice on obtaining finance at a free-to-attend breakfast organised by Cheshire East Council.

The event, held in conjunction with Business Finance Solutions, is on Thursday, October 23, 2014 at Alderley Park Conference Centre, starting at 7.45am.

Councillor Michael Jones, Cheshire East’s Council Leader, will welcome delegates and there will be a keynote speech on the economy from John Young, North West agent for the Bank of England.

They will be followed by presentations and Q&A sessions with David Martin of Business Finance Solutions and John Moore of Access to Finance, who will outline what financial products are available and how they help businesses apply for them.

Councillor Jones said: “Although there are a growing number of financial assistance packages available it can be difficult for a business to navigate the different providers and decide on the best solution. 

“Cheshire East has organised this event to ensure that our businesses have access to the best impartial advice and guidance possible and can develop and grow to their full potential.”

There will also be an opportunity to comment on how Cheshire East proposes to spend its budget in 2015/16. Delegates will also be able to visit the home of the new biohub development at Alderley Park, which is set to become a national centre of excellence for the life sciences sector.

To register, go to: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/access-to-finance-business-breakfast-event-2014-tickets-4673162555#

High Speed Rail College – further hub announcement anticipated

 

Responding to the announcement that Birmingham and Doncaster will host the two new specialist engineering colleges to be set up for the high-tech HS2 project, Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council said:.

“We were always aware that before any announcement on HS2 Crewe, an announcement on the Rail College would be made and that it would be going to Birmingham.

“We support that and we fully support the proposal for HS2 at Crewe.

“We understand the decision to locate the key college hubs in Birmingham and Doncaster and we anticipate further announcements on the local hubs in the future.

“Rail engineering and skills are embedded in the DNA of the people of Crewe and as a Council we will do all we can to promote our interest in playing a part in the hub and spoke model that this national college is expected to become.

“We remain optimistic on a HS2 decision soon; that we will be able to enter into discussions so that our talented young people may have an opportunity to contribute to this exciting project.

“HS2 is massive. We are talking to universities about specialist areas of learning, based at Crewe and we are working along with Manchester Metropolitan University to expand their presence in Crewe, which has to be great news for the town.

“The Council is working with its partners to establish not only academic but real time engineering solutions for UK plc and you will hear a lot more about this in the future.

“As always Crewe is on the up with much more to come.”

Check on ‘empty’ homes brings £800,000 windfall for Cheshire East

 

Cheshire East Council has secured more than £800,000 to spend on local services after officers discovered that 93 ‘empty’ homes in the borough were in fact occupied.

The money is coming from the New Homes Bonus (NHB), a Government scheme to increase the supply of housing, which was introduced in 2011.

The main aim of the scheme was to provide an incentive for people to build new homes or renovate derelict ones.

For every new home, councils get six years’ worth of the national average amount of council tax for that band of property.

But the money is also payable when councils bring back into use an empty property or find that someone is living in a home previously registered as empty.

The Council drew up a list of properties that had been registered as empty for more than six months and then compared it with credit reference records to find whether any were being used as someone’s main home.

Officers from the benefit fraud team wrote to properties that were identified and visited them if there was no response. The 93 properties that were found to be occupied will attract at least £802,000 in additional NHB payments.

Councillor Les Gilbert, Cabinet member for localism and enforcement, said: “This wasn’t particularly a ‘fraud investigation’ but it demonstrated how the team is capable of diversifying and applying its skills to other areas of work. They did an excellent job.”

Councillor Peter Raynes, Cabinet member for finance, said: “The additional funding will be spent on necessary services for the residents of the borough.”

Cheshire East Council acts to relocate residents from failed nursing home

 

Cheshire East Council has successfully relocated all contract residents from Chapel Brook Nursing and Residential Home in Congleton to other care and nursing homes that meet their needs following the decision to withdraw its joint contract with the company over a number of care issues.

Swift action by Council staff to relocate residents followed a history of failures over standards of care.

The seamless move was a result of excellent work by dedicated staff together with partner agencies.

A decision was made by the Council in August in conjunction with its joint contract holder, the NHS Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group, that the contract with the Chapel Brook owners should cease because of a long history of compliance failures relating to matters of care, drugs administration, safety and staffing and the quality and suitability of management.

The Care Quality Commission had also issued notice to the home of its intention to withdraw its registration following inspections which highlighted several failures to meet required levels of care.

Proprietors of Chapel Brook, Stylepeople Ltd., were given notice that the home would have to close today 30^th September.

All residents were moved to suitable alternative placements by 26 September 2014 as planned.

Councillor Janet Clowes, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member for adult services and social care said:

“Relocating residents in these circumstances is never something we undertake lightly but we are pleased to report that all residents have been found new homes and our carers and staff have been fully engaged in supporting the residents and their families through this difficult time.

“We will continue to keep in touch with those residents and their families in order to ensure that they settle in to their new accommodation and if anyone should have any concerns they should contact us without delay.”

The relocation of residents was carried out by Cheshire East Council care staff working with colleagues from the NHS Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group and followed a period of close monitoring and inspections by the Council’s own Quality Assurance Team.