Cheshire East Labour group has re-elected Councillor Sam Corcoran as its leader. 

And Councillor Nick Mannion, ward councillor for Macclesfield West and Ivy, has been elected as the group's deputy leader. 

Cllr Corcoran, who is ward councillor for Sandbach Heath and East said: "I am delighted to have been unanimously re-elected as the Labour Group Leader. 

"This year's council AGM, on Wednesday (May 15th), will be my sixth year as Leader of Cheshire East Council, if re-elected. 

"It has been an honour to lead the Council for the last five years and I look forward to working with councillors of all political groups, and officers of Cheshire East Council, to serve the residents of Cheshire East once again. 

"This coming year will be a particularly difficult one, balancing the tight budgets against the backdrop of increasing needs and rising costs, and devastating central government cuts. 

"Our strong team of Labour councillors, alongside our dedicated teams of Cheshire East Council officers, are determined to deliver the best services we can to all residents, especially the most vulnerable." 

Cllr Nick Mannion said: "This year will be demanding for all Cheshire East councillors, but in particular Labour councillors and their Independent counterparts who work with Labour in our joint administration. 

"Nobody becomes a councillor to make cuts to services, or to introduce charges where there were none before. 

"But the stark fact is that Cheshire East's costs are increasing, not just with inflation, but with an increasing demand for services. 

"As households struggle with the cost-of-living crisis, residents become vulnerable, and as our population becomes more elderly, the demand for adult social care has soared." 

Cllr Fiona Wilson, ward councillor for Macclesfield South, was re-elected as group Chair, and Cllr Jill Rhodes, ward councillor for Crewe East was re-elected as Group Secretary. 

Cllr Dawn Clark, ward councillor for Crewe South, was re-elected as group treasurer, and Cllr Connor Naismith, ward councillor for Crewe West, was re-elected as group whip. 

Heather Seddon, ward councillor for Congleton West, was also re-elected as media officer. 

She said: "'We have a really strong and united team of Labour councillors, who are all working extremely hard for their residents. We will do everything we can to ensure that the council's financial difficulties are overcome. Labour takes its responsibilities seriously. 

"We know the council has to live within its means and against falling government income, we know we need to find new and innovative ways to deliver the services our residents rely on." 

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