CeCe - our digital assistant

Welcome to a new way to get help from Cheshire East Council.

Meet Cece, our digital helper.

Cece starts with a wide range of answers already built in, and we will improve her understanding over time.

So, what can you expect?

You’ll find Cece on our telephone line, ready to answer your quick and simple questions. She’ll say hello and introduce you to our privacy policy before asking you for your question.

Simply ask her a question by speaking.

You’ll get the best responses by using a short sentence, such as:

“What time does the local tip close?”

“Am I entitled to any council tax discounts?”

“How can I report a pothole?”

Cece will quickly get you the help you need for all of these and more. If Cece can answer you straight away, that’s great.

But what if it’s something more urgent that you need guidance on, like a tree blocking a road?

If you ask a question that could be a potential emergency, Cece can transfer you to someone who is trained to assess and respond. Instead of going through her normal process, she’ll briefly explain who can help and ask if you’d like to be transferred to a member of the team.

Here’s an example of her response:

“Our highways team can assist with problems on our adopted road network, flooding, licences for use of the highway, and more. Would you like me to transfer you?”

We’ll be monitoring Cece closely and updating her regularly when our services change, to make sure she gives accurate information.

But what about those times when she can’t provide the help you need?

Cece will be honest and say, “I’m sorry, I couldn’t find a good answer for that.” She’ll ask for more information, and if that still doesn’t help, she’ll give you a list of services to choose from before transferring you through.

Our friendly customer services team are still here and available to support you when you need them most.

Cece has been designed to make getting in touch a little easier, helping to guide your call and get you to the right place.

Say hello to Cece — your smart new helping hand from Cheshire East Council.