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Ref: 172/08 15 May 2008

NEW INDEPENDENT GROUP AT CHESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Cheshire County Council has three members who have formed an Independent Group.

Their leader is County Councillor Chris Claxton who has represented Poynton for 7 years.

He is vice chairman of the Performance and Overview Sub-Committee.

“County Councillors were elected to serve the people and not a political party” he said.

“I firmly believe that there is too much political interference nationally in local politics.”

Continued County Councillor Claxton: “As independents we are not in any formal coalition with any political group and we are prepared to work with any group in the best interests of the people of Cheshire.”

County Councillor Claxton together with former Chairman Neville Price both left the Conservative Party and stood as Independents at the recent elections for the two unitary authorities.

County Councillor Price, the member for Sandbach for seven years, has the Executive post of Support Member for Children’s Services.

They are joined by County Councillor Arthur Moran who has been elected for a second time as an independent member representing Nantwich. Previously County Councillor Moran was a member of the Labour party. He was recently elected as a Nantwich Independent for the Cheshire East Unitary Council.

County Councillor Moran is also vice chairman of both Children’s Services Scrutiny Select Committee and Corporate Services Scrutiny Select Committee

The state of the parties at County Hall are: 24 Conservatives, 16 Labour, 8 Liberal Democrats and 3 Independents.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information please contact County Councillor Claxton on 01625 875555, County Councillor Price on 01260 290459 and County Councillor Moran on 01270 624071.