By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East councillors have approved a 4.99% hike in council tax as part of a budget aiming to “put council finances on a sustainable footing in the long term”.
But it was a close vote with the budget being voted through by only 40 to 38, with three councillors abstaining at full council yesterday (Feb 25th).
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cash-strapped Cheshire East Council will need about £28 million of exceptional financial support from the government to balance its books for 2026/27.
And that’s as well as the millions to be generated from raising council tax by the maximum 4.99% from April.
It appears Cheshire East Council’s bid to hike up council tax by 9.99% in 2026-27 has been rejected by the Government.
The cash-strapped authority had applied for the extraordinary measure, way above the normal cap of 4.99%, due to its massive funding gap.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Plans for a 6.7% hike in the police precept were signed off today – but 30 of the 60 PCSOs in Cheshire facing redundancy will still lose their jobs.
The annual rise for the police element of the council tax (precept) for a band D property is usually capped at £15.
Cash-strapped Cheshire East Council is applying to the government for permission to increase council tax by up to 9.99% this year, writes Belinda Ryan.
The council is looking at a funding a massive gap of £18.2 million for the 2026/27 financial year.
Cheshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner says he has saved 10 PCSOs from redundancy following Cheshire Police’s announcement in December they were axing 60 in total.
Now he is calling on residents to help save others – by paying more in council tax.
Nantwich Town councillors have voted to reduce the proposed 5% rise in its council tax precept.
But they warned that a 3.5% rise is necessary amid fears Cheshire East would ask the town council to take on more services as part of further devolution plans.
Town councillors in Nantwich have approved a draft plan to increase their portion of Council Tax by 5% in 2026-27.
The proposal, which would see just over £8 a year added to a Band D property within Nantwich Town Council boundary, will now go out to public consultation.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council should consider increasing the council tax rate on empty homes to help boost its coffers and help the housing crisis, a councillor has said.
Cheshire East currently charges the full amount of council tax for properties that are empty for between one and five years, 200% for those empty between five and 10 years and 300% for any that have been vacant for more than 10 years.
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.
Residents across South Cheshire are set to pay on average £14 more for policing after a planned increase in the force’s council tax precept was approved.
Dan Price, Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s (PCC), proposed the precept which was given the go ahead by the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Council tax bills look set to rise by 4.99% this year after the corporate policy committee voted to recommend the increase to full council.
The increase is the maximum Cheshire East Council can impose after the government this week refused its request to hike up bills by 9.99%.
Cheshire East Council’s bid to increase council tax by almost 10% have been rejected by the government, it emerged today.
The cash-strapped authority had asked the government for “exceptional financial support” and permission to increase the charge by 9.99%.
Recent Comments