One of the smallest parish councils in the Congleton area has had their future saved this week, with nothing to change in the next couple years.

Following a tense and exciting special meeting of Cheshire East Council on Wednesday 27th April at Macclesfield Leisure Centre, the future of Hulme Walfield and Somerford Booths was settled - at least for the time being.  

While the future is not entirely clear, it is now settled for a minimum or two years and mostly likely longer than that.  

The Full Council of Cheshire East Councillors voted, by a substantial majority, to approve the recommendations of its officers and Boundary Review sub-committee. 

Congleton Cheshire East Councillors Suzie Akers Smith and Rob Moreton enter Macclesfield Leisure Centre to vote on the community governance review. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Congleton Nub News)

Opposition to the proposals came from officers and members of  Congleton Town and a small group of County Councillors who tabled a 

last minute motion which would effectively have either deferred a decision on the main recommendations, or required those 

parishes/town councils where there was disagreement to  meet again.   

Both these ideas were voted against by substantial majorities of Full Council following legal and other advice from officers and the 

report was accepted in full.  

With a combined population just shy of 400, the Congleton parishes have always done their governance together, and neighbour each other.

Hulme Walfield and Somerford Booths Parish council chairman had this to say on what it means for local democracy.

"The recommendations contain a clear, and well justified community case  for the retention of the present arrangements," he said. 

"At least until the completion of the planned development of around 1000 new houses over the next five-to-seven years. 

An old water mill in Somerford Booths. (Image - CC 2.0 Unchanged Gethin Evans bit.ly/3LsUL7o)

"My Parish Council is very active in the planning process for these sites and wishes to ensure the best design, 

communication and ongoing development of them. 

"Looking towards the next review there may be a far stronger rationale for the inclusion or everything within the link road 

boundary within Congleton Town Council. I would also hope that we can swiftly set aside differences with our 

neighbouring Town Council. To that end I have already had preliminary conversations with David McGifford, 

the Chief Officer of Congleton TC to see how we can work more closely together.

"For the time being, Cheshire East Council has recognised the strongly expressed view as evidenced that the 

needs and aspirations of our present residents will be best served by a strong, well financed and expanded Parish council keen to 

continue its proactive and community focussed work." 

"This, after all, is what Parish Councils are all about which has been recognised in the Government's Levelling Up 

White Paper."

The changes for all Cheshire East boundaries were backed on Wednesday only after a 'wrecking amendment',

which would have delayed the process, failed.

Cllr Brown added: "Public consultation is far more than a numbers game.  It requires the you listen. It requires 

that you consider. It requires that assess the quality of the response and not just its quantity.

"My Parish Council is very active in the planning process for these sites and wishes to ensure the best design, 

communication and ongoing development of them."

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