Cheshire East Council

Cheshire East Council
Whole council elected every four years
Coat of arms
Type
Type	Unitary authority council of Cheshire East
History
Founded	1 April 2009
Preceded by	Macclesfield Borough, Congleton Borough, Crewe and Nantwich Borough and Cheshire County Council
Leadership
Leader	Cllr Rachel Bailey Since 2015
Mayor	Cllr Hilda Gaddum Since 2015
Structure
Seats	82 councillors
Conservative	53 / 82
Labour	15 / 82
Liberal Democrats	2 / 82
Others	12 / 82
Website
www.cheshireeast.gov.uk

Cheshire East Council is the local authority of Cheshire East. It is a unitary authority, having the powers of a non-metropolitan county and district council combined. It provides a full range of local government services including Council Tax billing, libraries, social services, processing planning applications, waste collection and disposal, and it is a local education authority. The council was first elected on 1 May 2008 a year before coming into its powers on 1 April 2009.

Powers and functions

The local authority derives its powers and functions from the Local Government Act 1972 and subsequent legislation. For the purposes of local government, Cheshire East is within a non-metropolitan area of England. As a unitary authority, Cheshire East Council has the powers and functions of both a non-metropolitan county and district council combined. In its capacity as a district council it is a billing authority collecting Council Tax and business rates, it processes local planning applications, it is responsible for housing, waste collection and environmental health. In its capacity as a county council it is a local education authority, responsible for social services, libraries and waste disposal.

Political control

Further information: Cheshire East Council elections

Since the first election to the council in 2008 political control of the council has been held by the following parties:

Party in control		Years
	Conservative	2008–present