A local community group in Macclesfield, Cheshire, has proposed creating a new independent council to take over local services and separate the area from the larger unitary authority. The campaign group published the plans on February 19, 2026, arguing that a smaller council would be better for residents.
The proposal suggests that Macclesfield and surrounding villages should break away from the current system to form a standalone local government. Campaigners believe that a dedicated council for the area would be more financially stable and give residents a stronger voice in how their community is run. They argue that local tax money is currently being used to support other parts of the region rather than being spent on local priorities.
According to a petition started by the group, the move is a response to years of perceived neglect. The group is using a government policy document known as the Devolution White Paper to argue for the change. This policy allows for the reorganisation of councils that are struggling to manage their finances or are considered too large to serve their communities properly.
The current regional authority, Cheshire East Council, has recently faced significant budget difficulties. It is currently operating with exceptional government funding totaling more than £53 million across the 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial years to help balance its books.
The ACE Action4CheshireEast group focuses on checking the council’s leadership and how it spends public money. If the proposal gains enough support, it could change how services are delivered and how tax is allocated for more than 150,000 people in the area.
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