By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cash-strapped Cheshire East Council is looking to fill six top jobs and is prepared to pay more than £750,000 in total for the right people.
The advertisements for the top posts come at a time when the council, which is predicting a £20 million overspend at the end of this financial year, is slashing services.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Richer residents should consider putting their hands in their pockets to help fund Cheshire East’s libraries, one councillor has claimed.
Cllr Mary Brooks (Macclesfield, Lab) was speaking as the environment and communities committee as it approved a new libraries strategy which means some will see opening hours reduced.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
More families of elderly people in costly care homes in Cheshire East will be asked to pay ‘top-up’ fees as the cash-strapped council struggles to balance its books.
And the authority’s executive director of adults, health and integration admitted she “couldn’t rule out” the prospect of having to move some residents who are in care homes above the council’s budget.
Nantwich Town councillors are to discuss plans by Cheshire East to scrap cash payments on all but one of the council-run car parks in the town.
Cheshire East highways committee agreed back in January to going “cashless” on its car parks.
Cash-strapped Cheshire East Council is proposing another 4.99% rise in Council Tax from April – as well as a range of other cost-cutting measures to existing services.
The authority has unveiled its financial plan for 2024/25, including increasing Council Tax by the maximum amount currently allowed.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council is to press ahead with plans to close its Westfields headquarters at Sandbach.
The corporate policy committee voted unanimously yesterday (November 30) to close the building to save money.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Fly-tipping costs Cheshire East Council £239,000 a year but it has a “dismal” record for dealing with offenders and issued just 22 fixed penalty notices for 4,456 offences, councillors heard.
A national league table published by the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs revealed Cheshire East was 211 out of 308 councils when it came to issuing notices (FPNs) for fly-tipping.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Crewe was not even mentioned in the government’s new £36bn transport proposals – despite being at the heart of the HS2 scheme before it was scrapped this week.
Labour and Independent councillors were scathing in their attack on the government for scrapping the northern leg of HS2, saying it was a ‘slap in the face’ for Crewe, Cheshire East and the North.
The Tour of Britain cycling race returns to Cheshire East next month, including passing by Bunbury near Nantwich.
The race featuring many of the UK’s top cyclists will include a full stage in the northern part of Cheshire East.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council’s chief executive is expected to quit to become the new boss of Bradford Council on a salary of £205,000.
Dr Lorraine O’Donnell has been chosen as the preferred candidate to take on the role in West Yorkshire.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Councillors on Cheshire East are to vote next month on increasing their basic allowances by £500 a year – four months after they considered freezing it for 2023/24.
The corporate policy committee agreed to recommend to full council that the basic allowance be increased by £500 and be backdated for 2022/3.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
More than a quarter of Cheshire East’s 82 councillors are not seeking re-election next month.
Altogether, 21 sitting councillors of various political persuasion have decided not to stand again.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council is axing its Stay Well Squad – a mobile health and wellbeing service that was launched last May.
The service was set up to help residents improve their health, fitness, and wellbeing.
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