Almost £60k cost of report confirmed

By timesecholife on in All News, Latest News

A council has confirmed that it cost almost £60,000 for the production of an 'options' report surrounding controversial proposals for a Moorlands town. Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) has confirmed that Cushman & Wakefield consultants were paid a total of £59,718 in tax payers' money to come up with a report, which is yet to be made public, surrounding options for the regeneration of Cheadle town centre.

A council has confirmed that it cost almost £60,000 for the production of an ‘options’ report surrounding controversial proposals for a Moorlands town.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) has confirmed that Cushman & Wakefield consultants were paid a total of £59,718 in tax payers’ money to come up with a report, which is yet to be made public, surrounding options for the regeneration of Cheadle town centre.

A spokesman for SMDC has confirmed the cost of the report adding: “This cost was split equally between SMDC and Staffordshire County Council.”

The Times & Echo contacted the county council for a response about the report to which a statement from councillor Mark Deaville, Cabinet Member for Commercial Matters at Staffordshire County Council, who also sits on the SMDC Cabinet, was forwarded to us.

In the statement cllr Deaville said: “It’s vital that our town centres are vibrant and attractive places to visit, shop and spend time in. This helps to attract more businesses to the county, creates jobs and ultimately helps to grow our local economy.

“We continue to work closely with SMDC and will work with wider stakeholders to develop exciting plans that will help regenerate the town centre and the surrounding area. We have also worked with a consultancy over the summer to develop some options for the town. This, we hope will be a basis for further discussions.

“A full and inclusive consultation exercise will be carried out with local people.

“Clearly the town really needs development and regeneration, but it needs to be the right development in the right places.

“Undoubtedly a number of other options will come out of the consultation process, these options will be considered accordingly.”

The Times & Echo also asked SMDC why the Cushman & Wakefield project had not been made public.

The spokesman for SMDC said: “The Cushman & Wakefield report is supporting evidence for the emerging Masterplan.

“It provides an appraisal of options and contains commercially sensitive information about sites not in the district and county councils’ ownerships.

“This appraisal will be considered as part of the proposed consultation exercise, to be held January to March 2021.

“It has always been the intention of the council to engage fully with residents of Cheadle as the Masterplan preparation process progresses.”

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