The audit of accounts for Middlewich Town Council for the year ended 31 March 2025 has been carried out but cannot be completed for the reasons stated in the external auditor report. The accounts have been published. Please see download link for a copy of the notice and external audit interim certificate.
Middlewich Town Council have successfully negotiated a Service Level Agreement with Cheshire East Council to operate and maintain the public conveniences at Fountain Fields.
MTC was initially advised that there was no budget for CEC to maintain the toilets, however CEC have now agreed to pick up the utility, maintenance and health and safety costs.
The SLA shall be formally considered at the September Full Council meeting once the internal process has been completed by CEC Officers.
If the SLA is successfully agreed by MTC, the agreement shall continue for two years from the signed commencement date of the SLA with an option to extend the agreement by periods of up to 12 months each up to an aggregate period of 24 months.
A huge thank you to all our stallholders – and especially to the amazing people of Middlewich – for coming out to support the Summer Street Market and making it such a success!
The transcript of the injunction proceedings that took place on Wednesday, 16th July 2025, relating to the Middlewich Cemetery was received from the Courts on 21st August 2025. The judgement part of the proceedings was received 28th August 2025. Copies of both parts are available to download from the links below.
Part 1 of the court transcript download link:
Download Transcript – Part 1 of 2 – 16 July 2025
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Part 2 Judgement of the court transcript download link:
Part 2 – Judgement Transcript 16 July 2025 Download
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Download Injunction & Court Orders
The council have carried out an internal investigation relating to the objection submitted against the accounts relating to the financial year ending 31st March 2023. The internal investigation has assisted the council to submit a council response to the external auditor PKF Littlejohn.
The objection raised by the member of the public related to the expenditure during the year on backdated pension payments by the council as detailed below (extracted from the objection):
”The Council has agreed to pay both the employer, and employee pension contributions of staff that were not automatically enrolled into the councils pension scheme. I am also told that all employees have had their contributions backdated to the time they started with the council ie before February 2017 when automatic enrolment became a legal duty and that those employees had previously chosen to opt out of the scheme have also had their contributions paid. The internal audit has put the figure at £80,343, which appears to be an enormous liability and possibly overpayment. If true that payments have been made backdated then this is an obvious abuse of public money. In addition, if the Council has backdated pension contributions prior to the date of February 2017 i.e paid contributions back to the employee start date, then it would seem to be discriminatory to those members of staff that have left the employment of the Council and not received any pension contributions from the Council”.
The council resolved at the meeting held on 21st July 2025 (minute item 2526.84FC) that a redacted copy of the Councils Response to the pensions objection and evidence pack be published on the Town Council website and that the objector be directed to the website link where a copy can be downloaded. See download link below.
The transcript of the injunction proceedings that took place on Wednesday, 16th July 2025, relating to the Middlewich Cemetery was received from the Courts on 21st August 2025. The transcript for the judgment part of the proceedings remains outstanding and will be published once this is recieved.
Part 1 of the court transcript can be downloaded from the link below:
The Mayor and the Town Clerk attended Abbots Moss Hall earlier today to discuss good causes and worthy individuals in the community following the invitation recieved from Bill Holroyd CBE, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant and Chairman of the Lieutenancy Group for Mid Cheshire. The aim of the meeting was to help guide the application process that covers awards from Knighthoods to Royal Garden Parties and the Kings Awards for voluntary service and Enterprise.
If you are aware of any deserving person who should be considered, then why not nominate them by following the honor’s process application outlined on the website link: https://cheshirelieutenancy.org.uk/the-honours-system/
Wheelock Street – Middlewich
Saturday 30 August 2025
2.00pm to 7.00pm
Market Stalls I Street Food Vendors I Live Entertainment
Enjoy a lively mix of market stalls, street food vendors and a great community atmosphere, perfect for a summer afternoon out with family and friends
Middlewich Town Council provides the annual programme of Christmas illuminations in Middlewich town centre. The focus of the illumination scheme is the annual ‘Switch On’ event which is usually held on the last Saturday of November.
The Council is tendering with a view to agreeing a contract with a supplier from September 2025.
The Town Council will consider tenders for a 3 and 5 year contract which will start with the display for the Switch on Event to be held on Saturday 29th November 2025.
In accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, this tender opportunity has been published on the Find a Tender Website.
Tender documents are available to download from the link below.
