I HAVE to confess to being very confused by the Guardian recently.

First I read Vic Barlow’s piece about this dreadful council which has had suspensions of highranking officers, the resignation of a council leader and a culture of bullying.

It’s been exposed as falsely manipulating pollution data and failing to pay the correct wages to care workers. It is subjected to four separate police investigations and finally created a public clamour for the council to be placed in special measures.

I then read a letter on the opposite page by Rachel Bailey, a council leader, who described in glowing terms how wonderfully well her council was doing and showing ‘vital good governance’.

She was particularly proud of providing excellent wedding ceremonies, something I must remember the next time my front wheel goes into a pothole.

It turns out that these two councils are actually the same - Cheshire East. But how can this be possible?

Geoff Holman Via email