The Executive Committee of Crewe & Nantwich Liberal Democrats discussed the review of community governance in Crewe at our September 2011 meeting.

Members are in favour of the establishment of a Town Council for Crewe.

Establishment of Town Councils would bring Crewe and Macclesfield into uniformity with the rest of Cheshire East. Local Service Delivery is now a reality in Cheshire East. However the Local Service Delivery Committee established for Crewe is an inappropriate and unsatisfactory way to determine any Local Precept to charge residents of the unparished areas of the town.

A Member of Cheshire East Council elected to represent a Crewe ward takes on a large job. They must be willing to take a strategic view of issues that affect the whole of Cheshire East but also engage with the minutiae of issues that affect only their ward. They are also Charter Trustees: one is required to serve as Town Mayor and the others provide civic leadership in the town. Town councillors would take over the civic leadership role and assist Cheshire East councillors in dealing with local issues arising in their wards.

Liberal Democrats regret the declining level of interest and participation in local government. A Town Council in Crewe is likely to make it easier for people to stand for election for the first time, and thus increase the number of people actively involved in local democracy. It would also bring local government closer to individual electors.