CHESHIRE East Council has been accused of ‘keeping quiet’ about £2.4 million in government grants which campaigners say should have gone to local communities.

The claim comes from Wilmslow town councillor Mark Goldsmith, a member of Residents of Wilmslow, which is pressing Cheshire East to consult on how New Homes Bonus money is spent.

Speaking at the town council meeting, Cllr Goldsmith said the government launched the scheme in 2010, and paid grants to councils to approve developments.

He said: “Since 2010 Wilmslow has generated £2.4 million in New Homes Bonus – the understanding when it was launched was local communities would be able to use this money in a way to compensate them for developments they were experiencing.

“The money therefore was not ring-fenced because it could be used for a variety of things the community wanted.

“The implication was the community would be consulted as to how the money would be spent.

“Unfortunately Cheshire East decided to grab the money and not to talk to anyone about it and kept it quiet.

“In the last few months we have been raising why that was, and why there was no proper consultation with the people of Wilmslow as to where the money was to be spent.

“The Local Plan will generate about £7.4 million in New Homes Bonus – that is just money that Cheshire East has taken for itself as general income.

“We have been talking to the council about why that was and how we can have some influence on how that £7.4 million is spent towards Wilmslow and not just across the borough.”

The town council backed Cllr Goldsmith’s plea for support for the Residents of Wilmslow in pressing Cheshire East to implement a process of consultation so ‘we can have some say on how the money is spent at a local level’.

A spokesman from Cheshire East Council said: “New Homes Bonus is a grant paid by central government that forms part of the council’s core funding.

“Government guidance states local authorities are free to decide how to spend it as they are in the best position to make decisions about local priorities.

“The total amount of New Homes Bonus received to date is £35.4 million, of which about £3 million arises from new homes built in Wilmslow (£2 million), Handforth (£55,000) and Alderley Edge (£45,000).

“Since it was introduced in 2011, the grant has been used to support frontline services across the borough, benefiting all Cheshire East residents.

“In that period the council has also invested approaching £20 million in the Wilmslow and Alderley Edge area in projects such as the Alderley Edge bypass, major repairs at Wilmslow High school, refurbishment of Wilmslow Leisure Centre and library, provision of play areas and improving road safety.

“The council consults on its budget proposals every year. This includes engagement with town and parish councils about budget proposals.

“Details of estimated general and specific grants are set out in full in the pre-budget consultation and then the budget report approved each February.

“This year, the council will be consulting on a specific proposal to allocate a proportion of New Homes Bonus for community priorities.

“Draft proposals will be issued for consultation in November. If approved, the funding will be allocated from 2018/19.”