Cheshire East desperately needs to avoid a S114 notice bankruptcy because if government officials run the council residents’ interests come second to balancing books, councillors said.
Several councillors at a finance sub-committee meeting yesterday (November 7) feared the prospect of a S114 notice could become a reality.
Cllr Ken Edwards (Bollington, Lab) said: “At the moment, I’m very, very gloomy, and I think that we’re going to need the additional financial support.
“I do think we’re going to need to continue to work on re-profiling the capital program.
“And other than that, frankly, I think we’re crossing our fingers to avoid a S114 situation.”
The council applied to the government in February for exceptional financial support of £17.6m.
One of the key requirements for that was it had to produce an improvement and transformation plan and submit it to the government – which it has done.
If the council doesn’t rein in its spending it will have to use the conditional exceptional financial support to avoid the issuing of a S114 notice.
Cllr Reg Kain (Alsager, Lib Dem) was unclear whether using the exceptional financial support – which incurs costs – would be better than issuing a S114.
He asked: “I want to know why exceptional financial support, which is going to still bring about the cuts that we’re going to suffer, is a better situation than a 114 because, from where I’m sat at the moment, I can’t see us really avoiding a 114 in the future…
“And I’m very sorry, but crossing my fingers is not good enough.”
Other councillors warned a S114 was to be avoided.
Cllr Jill Rhodes (Crewe, Lab) said: “Exceptional financial support just requires us to increase our fiscal borrowing, but a S114 is commissioners coming in.
“Those commissioners have to be paid by the council, and you lose political control of your council, it is run by commissioners.
“So, democracy is probably not best served by a 114 notice and commissioners. That’s my personal opinion.”
Cllr Janet Clowes (Wybunbury, Con) said if members thought what the council was going through now is bad ‘it is infinitely better to the violence of a slash and burn approach, which tends to be what happens when government officials come in, because basically all they’re interested in is balancing the books, whatever it takes’.
She added: “We need to do everything in our power to avoid a 114.
“But on the other hand, it would be quite wrong to ignore the elephant in the room.
“It is there, and when we’re talking about exceptional financial support, I think it is important that we identify that, in this report, it does actually refer to the potential of actually asking for more exceptional financial support.
“Now that comes with its own costs, as we’ve always discussed, but again, that would be a balanced decision that has to be made nearer the time when we know what the government settlement is going to be in December.”
It is incompetence through and through. CEC have operating systems ie: naming just -Missed bin collection, Fix my Street, which just pay lip service to the complaints you make. I even reported a missed bin collection, given a reference number and 5 days for it to be recollected, AND reported issue directly to the CEC Chair of the Environment and Communities Committee – (I did get a response a week later stating that the issue had been referred to another Officer). Needless to say no further contact; the bin wasn’t recollected within 5 days and it was collected on its next due fortnightly date, despite being left outside my property all that time and in clear view. Fix my Street is of similar ilk, report an issue and it doesn’t get rectified. Still waiting several months later. I have cleared out the road gullies twice outside my property of weeds and compacted mud (even a tree stump growing) on the busy A51 in order to stop my property flooding. I’m a few months away from 70 years of age. COMPLETE JOKE OF A COUNCIL. Perhaps rate payers need to stop paying rates, as our money is being wasted by incompetency.
It is the basic function of the council to balance its books against the needs of the local area it serves, unfortunately for us the tax payers they totally ignore us,they run pointless public consultations and then do what they think is right anyway.
The list of poor decisions and total incompetence is endless, they are a total shambles and should be held accountable for their at best poor performance if not criminal negligence in regards to their financial management.
Should b put under special measures , incumbent councillors sacked. The car park in Crewe is the final mistake, BBC North West reports was clinical and trying to justify the “white elephant “ proves there is no acceptance of mistakes made. Cheshire East an embarrassment
I was under the impression residents interests were already second to balancing the books ( pay rises for useless staff taking even greater priority of course)
The only reason that Cheshire East Council finds itself in a desperate financial situation is due to the incompetence of elected Counsellors, Directors and Senior Managers. It is beyond belief how they spent 11 million pounds on consultants for HS2 without securing funding from the Treasury in London. Another 11 million on a multi storey car park which makes an average £75.00 per day before expenditure, running costs including salaries, national insurance, pensions and maintenance.
It is beyond belief.
Counsellors, Directors, Senior Executives should be held to account and where evidence supports they should be barred from public office.
Then of course there was the money wasted on excess purchase of mobile phones. A loss of £250,000 on 300 surplus phones.
If I am wrong tell me.
The citizens of Cheshire East will have to pay.
They waste to much money on silly things like the so called PROMENADE IN NANTWICH