FIXING potholes, managing budgets and supporting recycling are just three of the things Liberal Democrats believe they could get right at Cheshire East Council.

The party currently has just two members on the local authority, both representing Alsager, but it is fielding candidates in wards across the borough in the May 2 local elections.

“We are getting a very good reception on the doorstep so far,” said Cllr Rod Fletcher, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on CEC.

“Some people are fed up of both the Conservatives and Labour. I think it is because of both national and local issues – but as Liberal Democrats we are trying to emphasise local issues.”

Cllr Fletcher is particularly concerned about the Tory administration’s control over the budget.

In his speech made at February’s budget setting meeting, he highlighted CEC’s services overspend of £9.3 million in 2017-18, and a projected overspend of £4 million in 2018-19.

“The services budget has been overspent for the past two years because they have overestimated,” said Cllr Fletcher.

Knutsford Guardian:

“At the end of the year they say they have balanced the books, but they have not, and the council cannot keep doing that.

“We would like to see a better balanced budget rather than an overspend followed by a raid on reserves.”

The Lib Dems are also pushing the case for protecting buses, bringing services in-house to provide better value for money and ensuring the local plan is delivered on time to stop speculative developments in suitable locations.

Cllr Fletcher also believes residents need better guidance and support on recycling, after a Freedom of Information request revealed that 35 per cent of plastics placed in the silver recycling bin were eventually incinerated in 2017-18.

He added: “It is absolutely appalling. CEC should be giving better guidance on what can and cannot be recycled.”

The most recent Cheshire East ward to head to the polls was Bunbury last year, following the resignation of former council leader Michael Jones.

Mark Ireland-Jones stood as the Lib Dem candidate in that by-election, finishing second with 28 per cent of the vote.

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He is using the concerns picked up at the doorstep last year to send out a strong message for next month’s election – and believes bringing road maintenance back in-house at the council would be a major step forward.

He said: “This election is an opportunity to alert residents to the declining provision of essential services managed by CEC and a great opportunity to bring fresh thinking and expertise to the council.

“At the by-election, potholes was the number one issue across Bunbury ward – since then the Conservative-led council has issued a new contract to [road maintenance firm] Ringway Jacobs despite their failings in the last few years.

“We continue to believe that this is a poor use of taxpayers’ money and this service would be much improved if run in-house.”

Voters in Cheshire East will head to the polls on Thursday, May 2.

The Conservatives are looking to hold on to their control of the council and continue their growth agenda, while opposition parties and independent candidates are demanding a fresh approach.

For more information visit cheshireeast.gov.uk/elections

READ > Knutsford and Wilmslow's borough council candidates