Article by Belinda Ryan - Local Democracy Reporter / Alexander Greensmith

There's a month to go until we go to the polling station for the local elections.

As well as various town or parish council elections, there's also a full Council election in our area's largest form of local government.

All 82 seats are up for grabs in next month's Cheshire East Council elections, with Macclesfield's candidates having just been declared.

Altogether 254 candidates are standing across the borough, with the Conservatives putting forward the most candidates at 81 and Labour fielding 60.

Election counts (and Council meetings) take place at Macclesfield Town Hall, of Market Place. The building is owned by Cheshire East Council. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

The Greens have 34 candidates standing for this May's Cheshire East Council elections, and the Liberal Democrats have 30.

Outside of the mainstream parties, candidates are standing as Independents as well as those standing for such groups as Alderley Edge First, Bollington First, Putting Crewe First, Tytherington Ward Independents, Residents of Wilmslow and the Women's Equality Party.

Two candidates are standing for Reform UK and one for the Social Democratic Party.

There is also a candidate this year for the Official Monster Raving Loony Party.

Cheshire East Council HQ is located at Westfields, Sandbach on Middlewich Road. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

Cheshire East has 82 councillors in 52 wards. The Council deals with things like planning applications, and taking out your bins.

The council is currently run by a joint Labour and Independent administration after the Conservatives, who had been in control since the council was formed in 2009, lost their majority in 2019.

Despite not being in control, the Tories are still currently the biggest party on Cheshire East. The make-up of the council at present is 30 Conservative councillors; 24 Labour; 17 Independent Group councillors – this group includes others such as Bollington First, Residents of Wilmslow and Alderley Edge First.

The Liberal Democrats currently have four councillors on Cheshire East and there also four non-grouped councillors – they are Independents who are not members of the Independent Group.

It will be the fifth full council election in Cheshire East Council's history. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

At present three seats are currently vacant. The Handforth seat has been vacant since November of last year following the passing of Independent councillor Barry Burkhill.

And Labour's Steve Carter, who represented Macclesfield Hurdsfield, sadly passed away in December.

One of the Macclesfield Tytherington seats is also vacant after Independent member Lloyd Roberts resigned from the Council.

The local elections take place on Thursday, May 4. And here are the list of all the candidates for Macclesfield's various wards:

Bollington

The seat is currently held by Bollington First.

Bollington has two representatives at Cheshire East Council.

Nine candidates have announced they are running, including the two people that currently sit on the Council for the Happy Valley.

Five political parties are contesting this seat.

Broken Cross and Upton

The seat is currently held by the Labour party.

While six parties contested this ward in the 2019 election, 2023 will see this be a mere two horse race.

Labour will take on the Conservatives, with one of the current ward Councillors standing again for the Labour Party.

Two will be elected.

Gawsworth

The seat is currently held by the Local Conservatives.

Macclesfield Central

The seat is currently held by Labour.

Eight people ran for this seat in 2019, but this time there is a less contested field with six hopefuls vying to be elected.

Two will be successful, and four parties are contesting the seat.

Central Macclesfield is also where Macclesfield Town Council meet, as it is where Macclesfield Town Hall is located.

Macclesfield East

Four new candidates, and the winner of 2019's Macclesfield East poll will contest this seat.

Currently held by the Independents, five candidates will seek the most votes for one seat on Cheshire East Council.

Macclesfield East covers areas like Brook Street and Buxton Road.

Macclesfield Hurdsfield

Labour held this seat until the passing of Cllr Stephen Carter over the Christmas break.

Hurdsfield has one representative. None of the three candidates stood for this seat in 2019.

As a side note, this was had the lowest turnout of voters four years ago, with just 27.93% of ward residents heading into a polling booth.

Macclesfield South

The ward is currently held by Labour.

There's two seats up for grabs in Macclesfield South.

Seven candidates are hoping they will be elected.

One current Councillor for the ward is running again. The other, Cllr Laura Jeuda will not be running again.

Macclesfield Tytherington

The Independents won last time out.

Seven seek election in the Macclesfield Tytherington ward.

Two will be elected.

Macclesfield West and Ivy

Labour won both seats last time out.

Like nearby ward Broken Cross and Upton, it is Labour or Tories for voters in Macclesfield West and Ivy.

One current Councillor for the ward is running again. The other, Cllr Alift Harewood will not be running again.

2019 saw a UKIP candidate stand as well, but they won't be this time, meaning it is a pick between the two main parties or a spoilt ballot for ward residents.

Poynton East and Pott Shrigley

Two seats are up for grabs.

While Macclesfield Nub News doesn't cover much of this ward, it does cover parts of Poynton East and Pott Shrigley.

It is the only seat in the Macclesfield area with a Social Democratic Party candidate.

The Conservatives won both seats in 2019, however, one Tory quit the party in 2022 amid the 'Partygate' Scandal, however, they won't be running again.

Poynton East and Adlington

Five people are standing in Poynton East and Adlington.

Similar to the neighbouring seat, the Conservatives won both slots in 2019. Both current sitting Councillors are standing again.

The Greens came second here in 2019 and ran with two candidates, but they are contesting with just the one this time.

Neither Labour candidate applied for election in this ward four years ago.

Prestbury

It is Tories vs Indies in Prestbury.

Like the last election, a mere two candidates will stand in Macclesfield's most affluent ward.

However, it is all new faces. Cllr Paul Findlow was the current elected representative, having been Prestbury's sole seat since Cheshire East Council was created.

And while the Conservatives will be standing again this time, Labour aren't running again in this area.

A new Independent candidate will be the only challenger to the Conservative-held seat.

Sutton

The Conservatives won here in 2019.

Macclesfield's largest ward in terms of the geographic area covered, this rural patch contains places like Langley, Wildboarclough and Macclesfield Forest.

There is just one seat up for grabs. Last time out, the Conservatives won.

However, the retiring Councillor quit the party in July 2022, just hours before Boris Johnson was kicked out of 10 Downing Street.

The exact same four parties that stood in 2019 are going for it again, but with all-new personnel.

Cheshire East Council has existed since 2009. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

The local elections take place on Thursday, May 4 and this year you will need photo ID when you go to vote.

In addition to the 66 candidates across the 13 Macclesfield wards listed above, you can see a full list of Cheshire East Council candidates across Cheshire East on this link.

There's also parish elections in Macclesfield and Bollington.

Article by Belinda Ryan - Local Democracy Reporter / Alexander Greensmith

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