By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council’s ballooning special needs budget deficit is so serious it “threatens the very existence of the council”, a councillor said.
The DSG (dedicated school grant) deficit currently stands at about £90 million.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East is to increase the mileage rate for families whose children qualify for free home-to-school travel in an attempt to slash nearly £450,000 off school transport costs.
The council offers personal travel budgets (PTB) to some parents whose children are eligible for free transport.
Elected members of Cheshire East Council will have more cash to spend on highways projects in their local wards next year.
Ward member budgets, introduced in 2021, will increase by 50% from £4,200 to £6,500.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East’s audit and governance committee has been asked to look into whether council officers exceeded their powers amid claims a decision taken on Ward budgets may not have been properly implemented.
Ward budgets of £4,200 were allocated to all 82 councillors to spend on highways issues in their areas, following a decision made at full council in February 2021.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council has refused to allow its councillors to use their ward budgets to pay for gritting on treacherous roads because it goes against its new winter policy.
The Labour/Independent administration axed around 100 roads from its winter gritting route when it introduced its new policy this winter – including busy rural routes like Coole Lane and Checkley Lane near Nantwich.
By Ethan Davies, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council plans to cut councillors’ travel allowances, slash training budgets and subscriptions, and restructure staffing to make much-needed savings.
The authority is set to pass a new budget in February for the 2021/22 municipal year, which legally must be balanced between expenditure and income.
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