Cheshire East Council is set for a £50 million loss due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, its latest predictions reveal.
At September’s council cabinet meeting, officials estimated the authority would lose roughly £50 million of income due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Government emergency funding of £22 million means that CEC is facing a £28 million shortfall for this year.
However, council leaders are also warning any second wave of the virus could put the authority in an even worse position.
Labour council leader Sam Corcoran said: “Although the infection rate in Cheshire East is low, it is rising — and if we are to avoid a second wave, then now is a critical time.
“I urge everybody to rigorously maintain the basic measures.”
At the meeting, deputy leader Cllr Craig Browne also revealed the most significant CEC spend had been on the care sector, with forecasts estimating £4 million of support will be delivered to providers.
A further £2 million is predicted to be needed to supply public sector staff with PPE — with a similar figure again is required for agency staff — and the loss of parking revenue amounted to £3 million.
An update on schools was also provided, with Cllr Flavell saying “attendance is just over 86%, compared to a national average of just over 70% across all schools”.
In fully-open schools, attendance is at 96% — just below the pre-Covid average.
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