CHESHIRE East Council has responded to social media comments made about the cost of a new newsletter.

Borough officials have reassured residents that first edition of The VoiCE cost £33,316 and that CEC has made no commitment to produce four per year.

The council states ‘a figure of £129,000 per annum was calculated based on the cost of 19p per copy for the newsletter which had been distributed'.

Cllr Peter Groves, CEC cabinet member for democratic and public engagement, assurance and ICT, said: “We state in the newsletter that this is intended to be a quarterly newsletter and I have stated the intention to produce up to four newsletters per year in future years, but no decision has yet been taken.

“We want to hear the views of residents before making a decision about future editions. People have done their own mathematics.

“The communications team is currently working on a high-level business case for funding for the proposal for up to four editions next year, which will be considered by council as part of the budget-setting decision-making process.

“Options to reduce the cost per edition will be considered, such as advertising, changes to distribution methodology and format.

“This business case will be informed by responses to the recent communications survey of residents, feedback from residents on this first edition and other from other sources, such as Acorn research data.

“The cost of the first edition of the newsletter has been met from existing resources.

“I would stress that I and others have received numerous compliments about the VoiCE.

“While there has been some criticism based on cost, which we are addressing as described above, this should not distract from the core purpose of the newsletter – to engage directly with east Cheshire residents to inform them about council services and how to access them.”