Post Tagged with: "budget"

LETTER: Chancellor’s Budget was a “confused exercise”

LETTER: Chancellor’s Budget was a “confused exercise”

Dear Editor,
What a confused exercise the Chancellor’s Budget turned out to be, pointing in all directions.

He claimed to have cut taxes, but because of the stealth tax increases he and Rishi Sunak introduced earlier, the record level of tax will increase not decrease.

March 12, 2024
How to choose the right family car for your budget

How to choose the right family car for your budget

Choosing the right family car involves careful thought. Your lifestyle needs, budget constraints and long-term financial goals play important roles in your decision.

If you have young children, it’s also worth thinking about how their needs might change as they grow up.

March 11, 2024
CEC approves 4.99% rise in Council Tax and mothballing tips

CEC approves 4.99% rise in Council Tax and mothballing tips

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East councillors have approved a budget for the next financial year which includes mothballing three tips and increasing council tax by 4.99%.

The council voted by 43 to 32 in favour of the budget which brings in a raft of savings measures including emergency tip closures at Bollington, Middlewich and Poynton from April.

February 28, 2024
Cash-strapped Cheshire East applies for Govt help worth £17.6m

Cash-strapped Cheshire East applies for Govt help worth £17.6m

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cash-strapped Cheshire East Council has applied to the government for exceptional financial support in the form of a capitalisation direction for up to £17.6m.

This means the council won’t receive extra money but is able to create a “negative reserve” similar to that already in place for the overspend on the special educational needs budget.

February 16, 2024
Cheshire East to rubber stamp budget with 4.99% council tax rise

Cheshire East to rubber stamp budget with 4.99% council tax rise

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East looks set to rubber stamp a budget later this month which includes the expected 4.99% council tax hike and the emergency closure of three tips from April.

The corporate policy committee yesterday (Tuesday) voted by eight to five in favour of recommending the proposed 2024/25 budget to full council for approval.

February 14, 2024
Schools could lose catering service amid further Cheshire East cuts

Schools could lose catering service amid further Cheshire East cuts

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
The catering service that dozens of schools rely on to feed pupils could be axed amid further cuts planned by Cheshire East Council.

Schools across the borough have different arrangements in place, including some buying back from Cheshire East’s catering service or use another third party provider. Some schools provide lunches themselves.

February 6, 2024
Adult social care costs rocketing with £5m overspend likely

Adult social care costs rocketing with £5m overspend likely

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Adult social care costs are rocketing in Cheshire East with some needs so complex it can cost about £9,000 a week for one person, councillors were told.

Jill Broomhall, director of adults and social care, said the average age of people being assessed for care need in the borough was 89.

January 22, 2024
LETTER: Cheshire East Council Budget Consultation 2024-25

LETTER: Cheshire East Council Budget Consultation 2024-25

Dear Editor,
In one of the documents of Cheshire East Council Budget Consultation, you show that central support has dropped for £55M to near zero over 10 years, then state that “The council must therefore do things differently for less”

January 17, 2024
One in eight posts at cash-strapped Cheshire East Council are vacant

One in eight posts at cash-strapped Cheshire East Council are vacant

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Nearly an eighth of posts at Cheshire East Council are vacant as the cash-strapped authority tries to slash its wage bill to help balance its books.

Cheshire East is currently forecasting a £13 million overspend by the end of this financial year in March – but is still hoping to find a way to break even.

January 17, 2024
Less than two thirds sign up to Cheshire East garden waste scheme

Less than two thirds sign up to Cheshire East garden waste scheme

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council could fail to rake in the £4m it hoped from its garden waste collections because less than two thirds of residents needed have so far subscribed.

As from this month, garden waste will only be collected if residents have paid the new annual £56 subscription fee.

January 11, 2024
Aerial photo town centre and church

Nantwich Town councillors vote through precept rise of 3.5%

Nantwich Town councillors have voted through a council tax precept rise of 3.5% for 2024-25 – half of the original planned 7% rise first debated in November.

But again the issue prompted at times a heated debate among councillors, with some Labour councillors calling for a zero rise and to find savings elsewhere.

December 14, 2023
Plan for 7% rise in Nantwich Council tax precept sparks councillors row

Plan for 7% rise in Nantwich Council tax precept sparks councillors row

A plan to increase the Nantwich Town Council portion of Council Tax by 7% in 2024-25 sparked a heated debate among town councillors.

The town council’s draft budget was put to the council last night at Brookfield Hall.

November 10, 2023
CEC may run own care homes to due to private sector costs

CEC may run own care homes to due to private sector costs

By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council may be forced to run its own care homes for the first time in decades as the price of commissioning private sector services is spiralling.

The council recently forecast a budget shortfall of £18.7m by the end of this financial year.

November 8, 2023