Cash-strapped Cheshire East Council has been granted exceptional financial support from the government for the third year so it can balance its books, writes Belinda Ryan.
The authority was informed yesterday its request for £35 million for the next financial year has been agreed in principle.
Dear Editor,
I have just perused CEC’s website and looked at the Devolution sections.
It is certainly cracking on at a pace even though the latest report to the Shadow Authority Board on 30th January amounted to 218 pages, single, and with a few blank separation spacers.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
The cost of Crewe’s new police station near Shavington has rocketed from £8.5 million in 2022 to £16.5 million – and part of that is due to the derailed HS2 project.
Cllr Keith Millar asked police commissioner Dan Price for an update on the new police hub to be built in Basford, during a Cheshire’s police and crime panel meeting.
A business centre owner near Nantwich says he is optimistic about how this month’s Budget could help small businesses.
Peter Beckett runs the Park View Business Centre, off the A530 Whitchurch Road at Combermere.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East is forecasting an overspend of £8.86 million in children’s services because of soaring placement costs and because it set ‘unrealistic savings’ in the budget.
Finance officer Diane Green told the children and families committee: “Although numbers of children in care are reducing, the cost of placements in 2025/26 has continued to increase, creating an unbudgeted pressure.”
Dear Editor,
Income Tax is raised by 2% before the Budget announcement.
Just received my notification of the fuel allowance so checked on the Government website as I have an employment pension which I paid into from the age of 18.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cash-strapped Cheshire East wants residents to complete a ‘budget prioritisation survey’ as the council faces a £33 million funding gap for the next financial year.
Deputy leader Michael Gorman (Wilmslow, Ind) said a report to the corporate policy committee on the budget setting process for revealed, at that point, the funding gap was £33 million without any support from government.
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Cheshire East Council has no plan in place to deal with its massive special needs budget deficit, just a seven-year proposal to bring spending back in line with grant income, a councillor said.
The Dedicated School Grant (DSG) overspend was reported to be about £112.1 million at the end of the 2024/25 financial year.
If you’re thinking about upgrading your iPhone, you’re probably debating between splurging on a brand-new model or saving some money by looking into refurbished phones.
This options make sense depending on what matters most to you – your budget, performance needs, and personal values all play a part in making the right call.
Cheshire East councillors have narrowly approved its budget by 42 to 37 votes, which includes a 4.99% hike in council tax.
The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and non-grouped councillors – including former Labour member Laura Smith – all voted against the cost-cutting budget at full council.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
A panel set up last summer to look at the ‘extreme challenge’ of Cheshire East Council’s whopping £116 million special needs budget deficit has not met once, a councillor said.
Cash-strapped Cheshire East is overspent on its special needs and disability (SEND) budget because the cost of provision has outstripped government funding.
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