Councillors have been promised a full update on the plan to transform Cheshire East and save up to £91 million over the next four years after not receiving regular progress reports, writes Belinda Ryan.
The cash-strapped council only managed to come up with a balanced budget with the help of £17.6 million exceptional financial support from the government.
But one of the key requirements of the government agreeing that support was the council had to produce an improvement and transformation plan – which it did.
But since it was signed off last year, councillors say they have had few updates – a point acknowledged by officers at last night’s (Wednesday) meeting of the corporate policy committee at Macclesfield Town Hall.
Chief executive Rob Polkinghorne (pictured) told councillors: “We will bring comprehensive updates to committee at least quarterly.
“And at October’s meeting of corporate policy committee we will include detail on the progress with delivery, including financial and non-financial benefits for quarter one of 2025/26 and direction of travel for quarter two.”
He said no savings were expected from the transformation plan in the year it was developed – 2024/25.
“But savings for future years were included in the MTFS (medium term financial strategy) based on the opportunities identified within the plan.”
He said these would be covered at the October meeting.
Cllr Ken Edwards (Bollington, Lab), speaking as a visiting member, said: “The July assurance report was particularly concerning in its criticisms of pace of decision-making and leadership.
“Councillors also need to know what impact the transformation plans will have on staff and services to residents, both potentially seriously affected.”
Cllr Chris O’Leary (Sutton, Con) said: “Before the last council meeting, I had concluded the continued lack of transparency around the programme was such that I could no longer support it.”
He said he welcomed the report.
But he continued: “Going forward, we need very clear information on the whole lifetime costs and savings of the transformation programme, on how other economic benefits, particularly those to residents and local businesses, are generated and how we’re going to put a value to those…
“The program is going to fundamentally change the nature of the relationship between residents and this council, and this is going to involve significant changes in policy.
“So we need clarity around when those decisions are being brought to members.”
Deputy council leader Michael Gorman (Wilmslow, Ind) said: “We now need to focus on the really hard yards of restructuring and delivering restructure at pace and within budget.
“The delivery of this transformation plan is absolutely crucial and critical to the financial sustainability and long-term security of this council and, in this light, we do need to fully understand the quarter one position and the direction of travel for quarter two and 2025/26 and beyond.”
Council leader Nick Mannion (Macclesfield, Lab) said: “We’ve got to get it right first time, and we’ve got to get it right at pace.”
The committee was unanimous in agreeing the recommendations, which included noting that service committees will be the decision makers for relevant transformation business cases that propose a significant change in council policy and inform the budget setting process.
The corporate policy committee will provide oversight and decision-making for the overall transformation plan, budget and MTFS.
If a private business was run like the council it would be out of business in less than a year,it has lost sight of its role.
Unfortunately no one is ever held to account and the majority of you accept it,we all need to take an interest in the service they provide and what most of us are paying for it .
The amount of waste and poor delivery of projects is staggering, remember this when you have a chance to vote,don’t waste it,the council are depending on you to do just that,accept this as the normal, high taxes and poor service enough is enough
How can they save 91 million over next four years, when they cannot manage the budget now. Have no doubt when four years are up, they will say they hadn’t managed to save 91 million, due to other financial constraints….this, that and the other.
What is happening? Councillors not being updated on something so important to us all. Then only updates at least quarterly.Surely the magnitude of the problem requires updates far more frequently and no longer than 6 weeks. If the report writers reduced the amount of waffle, theory speak etc more frequent updates is easily achievable. Come on CE get on with it and keep us Council Tax payers updated. You will find more support if open.
The question is, ‘ If they can save £91 million over the next 4 years,’ Why were they not saving this amount of tax payers money before hand? ‘
They wasted 11 million pounds on a car park, 11 million on consultants for HS2 , I am sure that was the tip of the iceberg!!!
It is shameful that so much of tax payers money is wasted by the Public Sector in General. and specifically Local Authorities and Cheshire East Council.
It is shocking, no one is ever held to account.