Alsager councillor slams Cheshire and Warrington devolution plan as "consolidation" not "devolution"
An Alsager councillor has questioned the combined Mayoral authority for Cheshire and Warrington and wants to throw his hat into the ring an apply to be Mayor should the chance arise.
Councillor Reg Kain, who switched being a member of the Liberal Democrats to Reform UK earlier this year, also slammed a community engagement event on the subject in Congleton which he attended.
Two community engagement events for residents to share their views about devolution took place including one in Congleton on Tuesday night (June 10th).
The events were billed as "an opportunity for residents to learn more about devolution proposals, ask questions and share their views about what matters most to them".
Residents were urged to 'go along to find out more about what devolution could mean for Cheshire and Warrington' but Cllr Kain said they were far from a chance to ask questions.
He said: "The meeting began with a presentation, after which we were told we would have just 10 minutes for a Q&A. I immediately questioned this—pointing out that such limited time would not allow for meaningful public scrutiny.
"The response was that the rest of the evening was intended for "discussion groups." I replied that we weren't there to discuss—we were there to ask questions and get answers. I was permitted just one question.
"I asked about the influence of unelected strategic boards—comprised of tech leaders, university chancellors, and business figures — who may be able to push through major infrastructure or development projects against the will of elected councillors and the public. I was told this "was not the case".
"Yet every morning I open my inbox to find a swathe of officer-delegated decisions, made without democratic oversight.
"Minutes later, a council officer stood up to tell us about "strategic partnerships" with the Mayoral Authority—confirming the very concern I had just raised.
"This is, in my view, a bureaucratic coup. A governance structure is being forced on the residents of three local authorities—a structure that removes direct accountability from the central government. We are being told that if we do not comply, we will lose funding. That is not a choice—it's a threat.
Let's be clear: when the people of the North East were given a democratic vote on a similar structure in 2004, they rejected it overwhelmingly. The government has not asked the people again. It has simply rebranded the idea and bypassed democracy altogether.
"This is not devolution. It is consolidation —top-down control disguised as local empowerment."
The three councils across Cheshire and Warrington – Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Warrington – are working to secure a devolution agreement.
In a joint statement, released prior to the consultation events, Cllr Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cllr Nick Mannion, Leader of Cheshire East Council, and Cllr Michael Gorman, Deputy Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: "These community engagement events are a great opportunity for residents to have their voices heard and to play an important role in shaping the future of Cheshire and Warrington.
"The events follow a series of other community pop-up events, which took place at popular local markets across the area last month, and we will use the feedback from all engagement activities as we work with government to develop the best devolution agreement for our area.
"We are committed to ensuring that a devolution agreement reflects the needs and aspirations of our residents, communities and businesses, so we encourage you to come along and share your views."
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