News in Macclesfield

A new partnership could see more drama and film production coming to Cheshire East – already a popular location for leading producers and directors.

Cheshire East Council has signed up to a new national charter aimed at giving the regions greater opportunity to secure quality drama and film production outside London. It will also help locally-based crews, technicians and production staff secure work on major projects.

Following the announcement that both Cheshire West and Cheshire East councils will be placed in Tier 2 at the end of lockdown, it's natural to assume that that means the county will have a Tier 2 Christmas.

However, the announcement was also accompanied by a promise from health Secretary Matt Hancock that each area's position will be reviewed in a fortnight, so there is scope for boroughs to move up and down the system.

Sunday was the start of Advent, a time when Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

For many it is a time to shop for gifts, plan Christmas meals, and decorate the home. This Christmas will be different, decisions of who will be in your Christmas bubble, is a moral dilemma in itself!

Macclesfield will face Tier 2 coronavirus restrictions when the full national lockdown ends next week.

It means people will be banned from meeting those from other households indoors, whether that's in their home or in a pub.

Cheshire East Council has launched a public consultation on its first ever customer experience strategy and is asking residents and businesses to share their views.

The consultation, which begins today and will end on 15 January 2021, seeks to engage with residents and businesses to gain their views on the council's customer services.

The financial health of Cheshire East Council has improved, as the latest figures suggest the authority's Covid shortfall has halved since October.

A report by CEC's corporate overview and scrutiny committee says the council still faces a £13 million shortfall, but this number is much-reduced from the £26 million estimated in October.

Cheshire East Council is to develop new schemes to promote cycling and walking in the borough after being awarded £588,000 by the government.

The grant follows a successful bid by the council for a second phase of active travel funding from the Department for Transport.

Macclesfield residents have been given the chance to have their say on plans which could see other towns in the area lose their recycling centres.

Earlier this month, Cheshire East Council cabinet members voted to launch a consultation into the proposals, which sets out a variety of scenarios for the future of the centres.

Cheshire East has welcomed the government plan for a green industrial revolution, which supports the council's target of being carbon neutral by 2025 and influencing carbon reduction across the borough.

The government's plan sets out the approach that will be taken to 'build back better' – supporting green jobs and accelerating the national path to net zero carbon emissions. It focusses on ten priority areas aimed at tackling the climate emergency.

CHESHIRE East leader Sam Corcoran has said the borough's current infection rate 'should' mean it will 'be put back into tier 2'.

Cheshire's council leaders are set to learn which tier of restrictions they will be in later today when Health Secretary Matt Hancock addresses the House of Commons at 11.30am.