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.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East could slash travel expense costs, save time and reduce its carbon footprint if fewer officers and visiting councillors attended meetings in person, the deputy leader said.
Cllr Craig Browne questioned why some of the council’s officers could not attend meetings remotely.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East’s plans to delay building a new Nantwich school for a year because of spiralling costs could actually end up costing the council more, councillors said.
Planning permission was granted in June for the new 210-pupil Kingsbourne Academy on the Kingsley Fields development.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council may be forced to run its own care homes for the first time in decades as the price of commissioning private sector services is spiralling.
The council recently forecast a budget shortfall of £18.7m by the end of this financial year.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council has not priced up the costs of introducing charges on its free car parks – including having to buy and install meters.
The council is currently consulting with the public on proposals to introduce charges on most of its free car parks and to hike up the fees on most of those which already have pay and display, including Nantwich.
We’ve all experienced it: lugging around a hefty suitcase as we attempt to navigate the busy streets of an unfamiliar city.
The exhausting act of carrying your luggage can indeed make sightseeing less enjoyable.
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.
Ministers have agreed to delay the second of HS2 between Crewe and Birmingham amid soaring costs for the controversial high speed railway.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said they will now prioritise the opening section, which means the completion and opening of Phase 2a to Crewe could be delayed by up to two years.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Care at home providers have received an extra 14% towards their fees from Cheshire East Council this year to cover spiralling costs.
Cheshire East had already agreed to increase the amount it pays providers by 6% earlier this year.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracry reporter
The cost of building a new fire station in Crewe has increased by £375,000 because of soaring inflation.
The new building had been costed at £7m but that has now risen to £7.375m.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East has employed a company to review its home to school transport provision as the cost soars.
The council says the costs of travel support for children and young people have increased significantly over recent years and are continuing to put pressure on its budget.
Falling into debt is something that you want to avoid at all costs as a business.
Sometimes, this is unavoidable, but often you will find that it is possible to prevent falling into dangerous debt but it will require careful management and ongoing effort.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East’s entire Covid-related costs have been funded by the government to date and not the council.
The revelation comes after the authority predicted the impact of the Covid pandemic would cost about £70 million and swallow up the council’s reserves.
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