THE Government is monitoring the situation at Cheshire East Council following pressure by MPs and residents, the Guardian can reveal.

The Department for Communities and Local Government has confirmed it is ‘aware of the situation’ and is ‘monitoring it closely’.

It comes after Laura Smith, Labour MP for Crewe and Nantwich, and Esther McVey, Conservative MP for Tatton, both wrote to Sajid Javid MP, secretary of state for communities and local government, calling on the Government to investigate affairs at the council’s Westfields headquarters.

A spokesman for DCLG told the Guardian: “We are aware of the situation in Cheshire East and we are monitoring it closely.

“This is a local matter and it is paramount that the council continues to work to deliver quality services for residents.

“Removing control from those elected by their constituents is an extremely serious decision and we would only intervene if there was strong evidence of widespread, systemic and extremely serious failure.”

Ms Smith wrote to DCLG last month, in an attempt to restore confidence in CEC.

“Residents are rightly alarmed at reports about CEC that raise serious questions,” she told the Guardian.

“I have written to the secretary of state for communities and local government to express my deep concern and have asked for an independent investigation to be launched into these matters.

“It is essential that residents are urgently given the assurances they deserve, so that public confidence in CEC can be restored. As of yet, I have received no response from the secretary of state.”

Esther McVey, Conservative MP for Tatton, has also written to Mr Javid to express the level of concern among her constituents.

A spokesman for Ms McVey told the Guardian that no further comment would be made at this stage, while the letter sent to Mr Javid will not be made available to the public.

But Fiona Bruce, MP for Congleton, has given her full support to Cllr Rachel Bailey, leader of CEC.

“Cllr Bailey has resolutely stepped up to the plate in a principled and professional manner to address and resolve past problems of CEC and to lead the council forward for the benefit of everyone in this locality,” she said.

“Few people would have done this in such a decisive and positive way, and in this she deserves our utmost respect and support – she certainly has mine."