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Local Government Reorganisation in Cheshire
In December 2007, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (CLG) announced that there would be a reorganisation of local government in Cheshire from April 2009. The current two tier system of local government will cease to exist. All Councils in Cheshire will be abolished and will be replaced by two new unitary Councils. Cheshire West and Chester will cover the authority areas of Chester, Ellesmere Port and Neston and Vale Royal and Cheshire East will cover the authority areas of Macclesfield, Congleton and Crewe and Nantwich.
Cheshire West and Chester Local Development Framework
The Local Development Framework is a collection of documents that will form the planning policy basis for the Cheshire West and Chester authority eventually replacing the existing Local Plans for Chester, Ellesmere Port and Neston, Vale Royal and Cheshire County Council (minerals and waste). The Cheshire West and Chester authority has been set up with the aim of streamlining and improving the delivery of local services, as well as promoting greater community involvement.
Draft Statement of Community Involvement
One of the first planning documents to be produced by Cheshire West and Chester will be the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement (SCI). This document will explain how the new Council will involve our community in the preparation and review of documents prepared for the Local Development Framework. It will also provide information on the consultation process for particular types of planning applications as well as how we intend to feedback decisions and information.
A draft SCI for Cheshire West and Chester has been prepared and we are currently seeking comments on this document. The draft document is now out for consultation for a period of 6 weeks between 16th January 2009 and 27th February 2009. It is available to view across Cheshire West and Chester in all local and mobile libraries and in the following Council Offices:
Cheshire County Council, Backford Hall, Backford Nr Chester CH1 6PZ
Chester City Council, 2nd Floor Reception, The Forum, Chester, CH1 2HS
Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council, Planning Services Reception, 3rd Floor, Council Offices, 4 Civic Way, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BE
Vale Royal Borough Council, Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford, CW7 1AH
You can also submit your comments electronically online via a link provided on the Cheshire West and Chester website: http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/cwac/vr.nsf/AllByUniqueIdentifier/DOC0AA6DD7F252D090B8025753C004EF3DF
or via email to forwardplanning@chester.gov.uk who will receive responses on behalf of the new Council. Please specify in your response which chapter / section of the draft SCI that your comments refer to.
Comments on the SCI must be received no later than 4:45pm on Friday 27th February 2009.
This SCI has been produced for the Cheshire West and Chester Unitary Council and has been prepared in accordance with The Local Government (Structural Changes) (Transitional Arrangements) (No.2) Regulations 2008.
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