Councillors will be urged to back formation of a cross-party working group to campaign for greater community cohesion following this summer’s national riots.

Cheshire West deputy leader Karen Shore has tabled a notice of motion which for next Thursday’s meeting of full council. It calls on councillors to back establishing a cross-party cabinet working group, chaired by the cabinet member for poverty, inequality and public health, to support the development of a community cohesion strategy.

It also urges the council to work in partnership with Cheshire Police and other agencies and organisations to ensure that residents feel safe in their daily lives, and also work with the government towards achieving the ambition of building unity and ensure that community cohesion is a priority across all communities in Cheshire West and Chester.

The motion states: "The tragedy in Southport was exploited by those willing to engage in mindless thuggery and vandalism and terrifying many people in our communities.

"Misinformation and disinformation, driven by social media and influential public figures, played a significant role in inflaming tensions, damaging community cohesion and putting innocent people at serious risk of harm and causing damage to public buildings, libraries, police vehicles and public and private property.

"This was most visibly seen in the disgraceful attempt to set fire to an occupied building in Tamworth and caused real harm and fear of harm amongst our communities."

It added: “The right to peaceful protest and freedom of speech are fundamental cornerstones of British democracy. However, vandalising and destroying people’s property, targeting people based on their real or perceived beliefs and characteristics and intending to harm other people does not constitute either freedom of speech, or legitimate protest.

"The damage caused was not just to property but also to people’s sense of safety, this will take longer to repair."

The motion also calls on councillors to reaffirm the borough’s commitment to being a borough of sanctuary. In 2021 members unanimously backed making Cheshire West a 'borough of sanctuary'.

The term means that although the numbers of refugees and asylum seekers the borough is expected to take in does not change, it makes the borough part of the City of Sanctuary network – a list of towns, boroughs and cities that have voiced their commitment towards becoming a safe place for those fleeing violence and persecution.

The motion added: “Cheshire West and Chester has a long-held ambition of being an outward-looking, community minded and welcoming borough."