Nurses at St Luke’s Hospice in Cheshire are urging the community to “walk with us” at their annual Midnight Walk fundraising event as the charity faces worrying times.
Hospices across the UK are facing a funding crisis due to rising staff costs and steep increases in utility bills.
Money management is an important skill that we must always strive to keep honing, but the good news is managing our finances doesn’t need to be a daunting task.
Mostly, what we need to do is understand where our money comes from and track where it goes so we can create a plan we can stick to.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East has been refused access to a government support scheme to help its ballooning special needs budget deficit.
The deficit looks set to be an eye-watering £285 million by 2031, despite mitigation measures.
Buying a car is a significant investment and an exciting milestone, but navigating the car-buying process can be overwhelming.
With numerous options, financing considerations, and negotiation tactics to consider, it’s essential to approach the process informed and prepared.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”
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.
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