Rachel Bailey - Safer and Stronger Communities Portfolio Holder

Councillor Rachel Bailey is the representative of the Audlem ward and has been a resident of Lightwood Green near Audlem for the past 27 years.

She has been a Councillor since May 1998 and became a Cheshire East Councillor after the shadow elections in 2008.

Rachel was appointed Safer and Stronger Communities Portfolio Holder in May 2010.

She is a governor at Sound Primary School near Nantwich and a member of the Audlem Educational Trust as well as an Honorary Vice President of The Federation of Cheshire Young Farmers’ clubs.

Rachel is married to Steve and they have two grown-up children. She has a background as a Medical Secretary/PA and is in partnership with her husband and son who run the family dairy farm. She is a member of Cholmondeley Tennis Club and Brookfield Golf Club.

Portfolio

Safer and Stronger Communities Portfolio Holder

This includes: Neighbourhood and Community Cohesion; Police Liaison; Emergency Planning with a particular focus on Local Area Partnerships; Air Quality Management; Food Safety; Environmental Health; Licensing and Trading Standards; Building Control; Development Management; Registration Services.

What are your priorities within this portfolio?

I want to provide effective services at the best possible price to the council tax payer and also maintain the low level of anti-social behaviour across Cheshire East. It is important to me that people feel safe in their communities.

From a planning perspective, I want to ensure that our communities are well informed and versed on how they can put their views forward on the National Planning Policy framework, which has been drawn up by the Government.

This is in tandem with the Local Development Plan for Cheshire East, which is currently being put together, and I urge all residents of Cheshire East to help shape this plan as it is their opportunity to influence decision making.

I would like the hard work of individual organisations within the community to be recognised, and I aim to do all I can to ensure continued support.

I am proud to say that our rural economy is being boosted by the fact that around 70% of marriages in Cheshire East are people from outside the Borough, and I continue to support this. We have some beautiful venues including Peckforton Castle, Tatton Park and Crewe Hall.

I would encourage local residents of Cheshire East to write to me with their concerns. In return they will get an honest, straightforward and a realistic approach from me. I’m highly driven towards achieving results and I believe that I am here to be your voice within the Cabinet.

What will present the greatest challenge within your portfolio?

My greatest challenge within the portfolio will be to ensure successful partnership working. It’s important that all the organisations we work with are able to agree to a common goal and we are able to achieve it together.

I have always been able to multi-task, however I hope I am able to give each and every matter my full consideration as a Cabinet member, whilst also being able to continue my full involvement with residents in the Audlem ward.

What is your main message to residents?

I believe in people developing their own communities and then letting me know how I can help improve them. This is your Council, your environment and it’s my job to support your wellbeing.

I would also like residents to understand the development management aspect of my portfolio. It is the means by which the Council positively manages the growth and development of towns and villages via the statutory planning systems.

Each year the Council determines almost 5,000 planning and related applications for all sorts of developments the length and breadth of the Borough. In making these decisions, the Council relies on its adopted Development Plans which provide the formal framework for assessing all planning applications.

What is your vision for Cheshire East?

I want to provide safe, cohesive communities of which residents can be justly proud through bringing together local groups via the Local Area Partnerships. I am passionate about my portfolio and believe each area I cover bears equal significance; from ensuring the restaurants we eat in meet the highest cleanliness standards to the streets we live on being the safest they can be.

How can people contact you?

By email rachel.bailey@cheshireeast.gov.uk  , phone 07825 436587 or in writing to the Cheshire East Council headquarters at Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach, Cheshire CW11 1HZ.