Tomorrow at Cheshire East’s Full Council Meeting, Cllr Lesley Smetham (Gawsworth) and Cllr Hayley Whitaker (Poynton) have submitted a Notice of Motion, requesting a wider debate for Councillors to determine the Council’s position in relation to the Peak Cluster Project.
Cllr Chris O’Leary (Sutton), whose Ward will also be impacted if this Project goes ahead, has expressed his deep concerns over the Council’s continued refusal to debate this issue at Council:
“Some residents will know that there is a motion on the agenda for tomorrow's meeting of Full Council concerning the Peak Cluster proposals. The motion states that this is an issue that affects residents across the borough and, as such, all councillors should be involved in making a decision about the Council's views on the proposals, and also asks Council to oppose the proposals.”
“I am disappointed, though not surprised, that the joint Labour and Independent Administration has decided that this motion will not be discussed or debated tomorrow, and that instead it will be referred to Cabinet. This has been done without any consultation with the proposer or seconder of the motion, without any explanation or discussion, and has I believe been done to shut down any dissenting views against the Peak Cluster proposals”.
“As the next Cabinet meeting is not scheduled to take place until September, it means that residents will have to wait a further two months before Cheshire East Council considers whether it has a view on the Peak Cluster proposals.”
“In my professional life, some of my colleagues talk about 'democratic backsliding' - a process by which elected governments incrementally dismantle the institutions, checks and social norms that sustain democracy. While such analysis usually focus on national governments, it is clear that it also affects local government - if you want evidence of this in local government, you only have to look at Cheshire East Council, for which its treatment of the Peak Cluster proposals are a fine example.”
“Refusing for many months to address questions raised by elected councillors about the Council's views on the proposals. Refusing to empower Full Council to be involved in decision making when proposed in April. Shutting down debate when a motion is proposed at this July's Council meeting. Repeatedly avoiding and refusing scrutiny, questioning, or to be open about decisions.”
“Labour and the Independents may well believe that their actions this week will give them free rein to make decisions on behalf of all councillors and local residents. They are sorely mistaken. I certainly will not let this lie - their actions only make me more determined to ensure that all councillors are allowed to contribute to the Council's position on Peak Cluster, and to continue to argue for that position to be to oppose the proposals on the grounds of the unacceptable level of taxpayer subsidy required, the substantial damage that will be caused to farmers, local businesses and residents, and our countryside, and because of the lack of any real benefit for residents of Cheshire East.”
Cllr Chris O’Leary (Sutton Ward) 14.07.2026
Reference: Notice of Motion
