Cheshire East Council has reaffirmed its commitment to ending bullying in the borough at a recent meeting of its full council.

The commitment was made when a motion proposed by Middlewich representative Jonathan Parry won unanimous support.

It said: "We are committed to providing a caring, friendly, tolerant and safe environment for all of our communities so they can participate in positive work, learning, social activity and enjoy a happy retirement.

"Bullying of any kind is unacceptable for anyone here in Cheshire East."

Conservative deputy leader Cllr Stewart Gardiner said of the motion: "We all have to be aware of the fact that bullies lurk among us.

"The best use a look or a comment. We all need to be mindful that we have to behave in an appropriate manner."

Cllr Gardiner then went on to accuse Labour CEC leader Cllr Sam Corcoran of bullying when responding to another Conservative member on active travel in Sandbach.

Cllr Mike Benson claimed that he had not received any communications on the town's active travel scheme aside from one map — which Cllr Corcoran dismissed.

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Chair Barry Burkhil acknowledged Cllr Gardiner's comments, but moved on.

In 2018, a Local Government Association (LGA) report revealed that 24 per cent of Cheshire East Council staff had witnessed workplace bullying in the second half of 2017.

Since then, an early 2020 'health check' showed that 'things have improved' in the LGA's eyes, said Cllr Corcoran.

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