THE saga of Cheshire East Council as the laughing stock of the country continues.

I now see that the chairman of a committee investigating alleged officer misconduct has been asked to step down from his duties.

Cllr Howard Murray, Conservative member for Poynton East and Pott Shrigley, has relinquished his role as chairman of the Investigation and Disciplinary Committee (IDC).

The council says it has received information which ‘raises concerns about actions taken’ by Cllr Murray while serving on the IDC and says further investigations will now be undertaken.

We’ve had an investigation into the Core Fit tender process; we’ve had the CEO and another senior executive stood down, on full pay, for months now on unspecified charges which drag on, at taxpayers’ expense.

We’ve had clear fraud committed over pollution data, where the data were deliberately manipulated to produce the ‘right’ result.

We’ve had reports of widespread and systematic bullying throughout the council.

We’ve had planning applications, opposed strenuously by the community who have been supported by their MP, just nodded through.

Potholes proliferate, child centres and bus services close, traffic congestion worsens, with even worse to come and no plans to cope with it.

And Cheshire East Council is now going to spend more than £2 million on a new visitor centre at Tatton, incorporating what looks like a busshelter in the middle of the old courtyard.

What do we have to do to get rid of this lot and start again with a clean sheet?

Geoff Holman Knutsford