Mass walkout over Cheshire devolution vote

A new combined authority is set to cover the three council areas

Opposition members of a council have walked out in protest over a vote on a devolution plan because their leader said it was a "waste of time".

Members were due to discuss backing a devolution plan for Cheshire and Warrington at a full Cheshire West and Chester Council meeting on Tuesday evening.

If also approved by Cheshire West and Warrington Borough Councils, it would pave the way for the creation of a new devolved authority, similar to that in Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region.

Before leading the walkout, Conservative leader Adrian Waddelove said the final decision on devolution was only to be made by the ruling Labour cabinet.

He told the chamber: "I suspect my Farndon ward residents and many in this chamber tonight will be surprised to know the only action being asked for us, elected councillors, is to endorse a report.

"It's a bureaucratic waste of time. Tonight is not a meaningful vote."

The Conservatives had also earlier pushed for the vote to be postponed until after an upcoming by-election in the Ellesmere Port ward of Strawberry, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Voters are set to choose a replacement for Labour's Gareth Gould, who has stepped down for health reasons.

The current pre-election period, also known as purdah, means there is effectively a ban on conducting any business which could be seen to promote the views of one party or political group over an other.

'Time sensitive'

However, the council's chief executive Delyth Curtis said the vote was "time sensitive" and required a decision before the by-election.

Council leader Louise Gittins said the local authority's constitution allowed Labour to make a decision without the full council.

"We wanted it to come to full council so that everybody had their opportunity to debate it, we didn't have to," she said.

"We will get our devolution for Cheshire and Warrington. If we don't... we won't get mandated to do it for another five years."

The vote was then taken by the remaining councillors and approved.

Warrington will hold a full council meeting on 15 September with a decision then going to that council's ruling cabinet for approval on 22 September.

Cheshire East Council will vote on the issue on 17 September.