Do you know what your council does?

All too often, people comment on Nub News stories, blaming Macclesfield Town Council for things they simply aren't responsible for, such as bin collections and the state of the roads.

In an attempt to put an end to that, we have put together this short guide explaining the difference between the town council and Cheshire East Council.

Macclesfield Town Council was created in 2015 following a Local Governance Review (Credit: Nub News)

Macclesfield Town Council responsibilities

• Allotments
• Christmas lights
• Community grants/development
• Floral displays
• Free to attend events such as Step into Christmas and the 1261 Festival
• Fund holiday club places for vulnerable children
• Investment in parks and playgrounds
• Investment in public toilets and changing places
• Mayor of Macclesfield/civic events
• Parkrun, Park Fit, Fitness for the Future, Street Sports etc.
• Statutory Consultee for all Macclesfield planning applications
• Town rangers

How the town council is funded

Town councils do not receive any direct funding from central government.

Instead, they rely on the precept (a share of council tax charged to local residents) along with any income they generate from services or facilities they provide.

Macclesfield Town Council must budget, forecast, set and approve their required precept for the following financial year, to be received by Cheshire East Council by March 1.

It is then collected from local electors via their council tax bill.

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The precept requirement is worked out by considering the difference between the council's estimated income and its anticipated spending for the upcoming financial year.

Cheshire East Council was established in 2009, taking over the role of Macclesfield Borough Council (Credit: Nub News)

Cheshire East Council responsibilities

• Benefits
• Business rates
• Car parks
• Council tax
• Crematorium
• Gritting
• Highways
• Libraries
• Licensing
• Maintenance of parks and play areas
• Planning and building regulation approval
• Public/environmental health
• Regeneration
• Schools
• Social services and social care
• Waste and recycling collection

How Cheshire East Council is funded

Cheshire East services are funded mostly from council tax, with almost 70p in every £1 paid going towards social care.

The council also receives additional contributions from business rates and government grants, such as the Dedicated Schools Grant.

However, Cheshire East is currently forecasting a funding gap of £2.3 million by March 2027 (less than 1% of the council's £427 million budget).

This figure could rise to £33 million by next year, driven by rising demand and inflation.

Committee meetings to discuss next year's budget will take place in January before a final decision is made at the council meeting on February 26.