TACKLING inequality in Winsford is high on the agenda for Cheshire West and Chester Council as they prepare to claw back £57million, the CWAC leader has claimed.

The new Labour-led council was expecting cuts from central government to result in them having to find £47 million over the next four years, though the figure is actually £57.3 million.

CWAC launched the ‘Let’s Talk’ consultation, which have now concluded, last October to gauge what residents deemed most vital in preparation for the cuts.

Addressing the town council on Monday, January 18, Cllr Samantha Dixon, leader of CWAC, said: “I wanted to come along to you today to express to you the new administration that took over in May at the borough level is very committed at addressing inequality.

“And that’s an issue I think is quite a serious issue in Winsford for the community who live here. Real differences in life outlooks, outcomes and chances for people who live in this town.

“It’s something that I wanted to come and tell you in person and assure you that this is something that is very important to the new administration at borough level.

“We are very committed to working with you as our partner at the town council to tackle these problems and these issues. It has the highest level of commitment from the new administration.”

The council leader labelled Winsford CWAC councillors fellow cabinet members Cllr Brian Clarke and Cllr David Armstrong as ‘champions of the town’.

She said the £57.3 million is an ‘unprecedented sum’ for local government that is ‘one of the most challenging deals that actually faced local administrators in this area’.

The borough council will finalise their budget for the next four years on February 25.

Cllr Dixon added: “The communities that experience inequality are going to be very much at the forefront of the decisions that we take, difficult decisions we will have to take.

“Not the kind of decagons that anybody will have been expecting to have been facing four years before we came to control in May last year.”