Cllr Stuart Mann

16/10/2026

Afternoon everyone.

I welcome the latest proposal to increase Council Tax Support for some of our lowest-income households but there is some important background that I think everyone should remember.

Before April 2026, eligible working-age residents could receive up to 91.5% support towards their council tax bill.

In April this year, the council reduced that to 78%, meaning those receiving maximum support had to pay at least 22% themselves.

The council is now proposing to increase the maximum support to 86.5% from April 2027.

So whilst that’s a welcome improvement, it still doesn’t restore the level of support available before the cuts earlier this year.

It’s also important to understand why those original cuts happened.

They were introduced as part of the council’s financial savings programme, with an expected net saving of £600,000 a year.

The latest Cabinet report makes clear that the new proposals are not intended to reverse that financial decision.

So whilst the proposed increase in maximum support is welcome, the council is still working within the savings framework that led to the original reduction.

The proposals also introduce a new income-banded system, intended to make the scheme simpler. Some households could receive more support, some less, and others may see no change.

The reduced savings threshold of £6,000, down from £16,000, is also proposed to remain in place.

I raised concerns about the original cuts earlier this year, particularly their impact on households already struggling with the cost of living.

Those concerns haven’t gone away.

I really want to encourage residents to take part in the consultation.

Whether you currently receive Council Tax Support, think you might qualify in the future, or simply have views about how we support our most financially vulnerable residents, please have your say.

The proposals aren’t final, and the council must consider the consultation responses before making a decision.

The consultation closes on 19 November 2026.

You can find out more and take part here:

https://www.warrington.gov.uk/council-tax-support-scheme-2027-28

I welcome any additional help for residents, but I also believe it’s important to be transparent about what has changed, what hasn’t, and what it means for the people affected.

We are legally required to consult on any proposed changes to the scheme and we're asking you to take part in this consultation to find out what you think about our proposed Council Tax Support scheme, which would start from 1 April 2027. We want to:

15/10/2026

Morning all.

At September’s Full Council meeting, I raised a question about the impact of speculative housing developments on communities like Burtonwood, Winwick and Croft.

Warrington already has an adopted Local Plan which sets out where housing should be built and how much is needed.

Yet we are now seeing developers bringing forward proposals on land that WAS NOT allocated for housing, including Ashton’s Farm off Clay Lane in Burtonwood, Bellway’s proposed Phase 2 development off Golborne Road in Winwick and The Turret Hall Farm application in Croft.

My question was fairly straightforward.

If these additional developments are approved, will those homes count towards Warrington’s housing requirements under its next Local Plan, or could our communities effectively end up taking housing growth twice?

I’ve now received a written response from the Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing.

The response confirms that the next Local Plan is currently expected to begin on 1 April 2028, and that homes completed from that date onwards, including those on sites not allocated in the current Local Plan, will contribute towards the new housing requirement.

That’s useful clarification, but it don’t think it fully answer my concern.

What happens to additional homes built before April 2028?

Even if homes built after that date are counted, what assurance is there that communities which have already accommodated significant development won’t be allocated even more housing in the next Local Plan?

I think that’s a pretty important question.

We already have lots of housing development taking place, alongside further proposals.

If additional developments receive permission, they will place further pressure on our roads, schools, GP services and other local infrastructure.

The response confirms that future completions will count towards the next housing requirement, but it doesn’t guarantee that our communities won’t be expected to accommodate further development when the next Local Plan is prepared.

I know the Council must plan for future housing needs, and that housing requirements can change but I also believe there needs to be a proper assessment of how much development individual communities have already accommodated.

My concern remains that our villages could end up taking substantially more development than was originally planned, without the infrastructure needed to support it.

I’ll continue pressing for clarity on how speculative developments will be taken into account when Warrington prepares its next Local Plan.

14/10/2026

Good Evening Everyone

Just a quick reminder that it is the WBC Cllr Surgeries this Saturday 17th October.

0930-1030 - Burtonwood Library
1100-1200 - Winwick Community Centre

Pop along if you have anything you would like to discuss.

If you are unable to attend you can email either myself or Cllr Burgess on the following email addresses.

[email protected]
[email protected]

Thank you.

12/10/2026

𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐀𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐒

From 31st October, significant changes to national planning rules could make it harder for ward councillors and parish councils to ensure controversial planning applications are decided by elected councillors rather than council officers.

With all the ongoing and possible future development across Warrington and in particular Burtonwood, Winwick and Croft I think you need to know about what this could mean for our communities.

We already have major housing applications and proposals affecting:

- Winwick – Bellway, Golborne Road Phase 2
- Croft – Peel, Turret Hall Farm
- Burtonwood – Ashton’s Farm, Clay Lane
- Culcheth – Hob Hey Lane and by Culcheth High

These are on top of the thousands of homes already being built or progressing across north Warrington.

At present, WBC Councillors and Parish Councils can, in certain circumstances, ensure that planning applications are considered by Warrington’s Development Management Committee.

We can ask they go to DMC.

Under the new rules, that will no longer be automatic.

Applications will have to meet new national criteria before they can be referred to committee.

For example, even where hundreds of residents object to a major development because of traffic, flooding, school places or pressure on local services, that alone will not necessarily mean the application goes before elected councillors.

Those objections 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 be considered, but they won’t necessarily mean the application is decided by elected councillors.

My worry is these changes potentially diminish the ability of local communities to secure committee scrutiny.

The good news is that councils still have some flexibility over how they implement these changes.

So I have written to senior officers at WBC, Parish Councils across the town.

WBC has published its proposed constitutional changes, which will be considered at Full Council on 26th October.

The proposals confirm that existing councillor and parish council referral arrangements will end in their current form, with decisions on committee referrals instead resting jointly with the Head of Planning and Committee Chair.

My concern is that the proposals do not clearly explain how ward councillors and parish councils can formally request that significant applications receive committee consideration.

I will write back seeking clarification and asking to see the detailed arrangements before Full Council votes.

We must comply with national legislation, but we should retain as much local democratic involvement as the law allows.

Planning decisions can change our communities for generations.

The people who live in those communities deserve to have their concerns properly heard and represented.

Local voices matter I do not think we should be weakening them.

You can see the Constitution sub committee papers where the changes are proposed at the following link.

https://cmis.warrington.gov.uk/cmis5/MeetingsCalendar/tabid/73/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/410/Meeting/9227/Committee/1286/SelectedTab/Documents/Default.aspx

WARRINGTON residents could find it harder to get controversial planning applications heard by elected councillors under new national rules due to come into force later this month.

10/10/2026

💚🌍 World Mental Health Day 2026 🌍💚

Today is World Mental Health Day, a reminder that mental health matters every single day.

Can you check in on someone today?

Across Warrington and our community, many people face challenges we may never see. Loneliness, financial pressures, bereavement, anxiety and depression can affect anyone.

💚 A little kindness can mean such a lot.
A friendly chat, a cuppa at a community centre or simply checking in on a neighbour can make a real difference.

We are fortunate to have so many wonderful volunteers, charities and community groups in Burtonwood, Winwick and across Warrington supporting others.

That kindness must go hand in hand with properly funded, accessible mental health services.

When people ask for help, that support needs to be there.

Today, I am also thinking of friends, colleagues and loved ones who have struggled, and those we’ve sadly lost along the way. 💚

If you’re struggling, please reach out.

You are not alone.

💚 Warrington Mental Health Crisis Line – 0800 051 1508 (24/7)

💚 Warrington Well-being – 01925 818017

💚 Samaritans – 116 123 (24/7)

💚 Andys Man Club – Free peer-to-peer support groups for men. It’s okay to talk.
https://andysmanclub.co.uk

💚 NHS 111 – Select the mental health option

💚 Local support: https://www.warrington.gov.uk/mental-health-support

Let’s keep building a Warrington where it’s okay to talk, okay to ask for help and where everyone feels heard and supported.

Mental health matters every day. 💚

09/10/2026

Really proud to sponsor Burtonwood B**r Festival again this year at Burtonwood CommunityCentre

23rd & 24th October.

If you are free, please do come and support too.

🍻 A HUGE THANK YOU TO CLLR STUART MANN! 🍻

We’d like to say a massive thank you to Cllr Stuart Mann for his generous sponsorship and support of our upcoming Burtonwood Community Centre Charity B**r Festival! 🍺👏

Your support is greatly appreciated and will help make this year’s festival a fantastic success! ❤️

📅 Friday 23rd & Saturday 24th October

🍻 Great b**r, great company and all for two amazing causes!

💷 Please remember this is a CASH ONLY event!

Thank you once again, Stuart, for supporting our community! 👏🍻

**rFestival

09/10/2026

This morning at the Library 💙

What's On tomorrow - Are you looking for a dementia friendly group in the Burtonwood area? See details below ⬇

08/10/2026

Croft Parish Council - Turret Hall Farm Planning application update.

07/10/2026

I questioned the proposed withdrawal of the school meals subsidy at the last Scrutiny Committee.

The response was that although Warrington Borough Council has paid it for many years, technically it doesn’t have to.

That may be correct, but don’t lose sight of the bigger picture here.

Saying

“Oh well we 𝑡𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 shouldn’t have been doing this or that service”, doesn’t make the impact of withdrawing it any less for the people who relied upon it or those who had employment from it.

Nor should we forget that for years cllrs have been happy to point to these additional services when talking about 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓 for residents.

WBC has identified around £90 million of savings and THERE IS more to come.

We are seeing proposals affecting

- 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬,
- 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞,
- 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
- 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭,
- 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬,

alongside major reductions across Adult Social Care and other council departments.

My massive worry is that we are rapidly moving towards a council increasingly providing only what it absolutely has to.

The leader of the council has said:

“𝐼𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑑𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑙𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑, 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠, 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛.”
-WG 19/07/26

Is this what that means in practice?

A smaller council increasingly retreating to statutory minimums, with services we have provided for years being withdrawn because there is no legal requirement to provide them?

If so, let’s be open about the real reason why these services are disappearing rather than hiding behind the fact that they aren’t statutory.

The statutory minimum doesn’t guarantee every library, community centre or valued local service remains as residents know it today.

It doesn’t guarantee the frequency or standard of many environmental and neighbourhood services people understandably expect for their Council Tax.

Cuts to preventative and community services will mean deteriorating neighbourhoods, greater pressure on families and voluntary groups, reduced support before people reach crisis point and potentially greater costs elsewhere later.

Warrington has a £179 million financial gap to 2029/30, even after a 7.48% Council Tax increase this year.

I sincerely hope Warringtonians won’t confuse the very real and very serious challenges facing our 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋 council with 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 government promises and political rhetoric.

Whatever your politics, we cannot allow national arguments to distract attention from the true scale of what is happening here in our town.

We should not confuse announcements about government-funded road improvements or infrastructure with the very different question of what services residents are receiving from their Council Tax.

We 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓 keep asking what services we are losing, what residents will actually receive in future for their Council Tax and whether today’s savings risk becoming tomorrow’s problems.

This Warrington Guardian Article reports that the school meals changes could put around 250 jobs at risk.

Those potential job losses would be in addition to 200+ staffing reductions already proposed within WBC itself.

These cuts are services, they are livelihoods

And they raise a very serious question about what kind of council and what kind of Warrington, will be left at the end of all this?

Unison warns 250 Warrington school catering jobs face uncertainty as council plans to cut a £500,000 subsidy and review meals provision from September 2027.