By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council has admitted its plans to cut library opening hours “may impact some residents’ ability to stay warm”.
The cash-strapped council is expected to vote through its controversial proposals to slash opening hours at some libraries when the environment and communities committee meets next month.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Nantwich Library and others run by Cheshire East Council could be privatised in future, it has emerged.
The council is planning to consult on proposals which could see some of its libraries privatised and opening hours slashed.
Rural bus services around Nantwich could be cut under new plans unveiled by Cheshire East Council.
But a direct service from the town to Leighton Hospital looks set to be reinstated if the proposals go ahead.
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.
Cheshire East Council is facing further financial pressures and look set for a potential shortfall of £18.7 million in 2023/24.
This is a massive increase on the forecast deficit of £12.8m published in the first financial review earlier in 2023.
Cheshire East Council is set to report financial pressures of £12.8 million against its 2023/24 budget, latest figures show.
But the authority says savings already identified have reduced this from an eye-watering £26.6m deficit.
Nantwich Town councillors have agreed to pay £22,000 to keep the town’s library open for an extra half day.
But a debate at last night’s town council meeting descended into a political row over the issue.
Nantwich Library looks set to be closed every Friday and half a day on Mondays under new service budget cuts proposed by Cheshire East Council.
The details emerged in a letter to Nantwich Town Council from CEC’s director of environment and neighbourhoods.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Two Cheshire East councillors have called on Crewe & Nantwich MP Kieran Mullan to lobby the chancellor for funding to stop library services being slashed.
Cheshire East Council faces a £20m funding gap because of soaring inflation and the increasing pressure on services.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East has approved a budget which includes cuts to services and a 4.99% hike in council tax – adding an extra £81.15 to an annual bill for a Band D property.
Council leader Sam Corcoran (Lab) told a meeting of the full council there was no alternative because “central government crashed the economy, local government are having to pick up that”.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East will make ‘substantial savings’ by reducing library opening times, but offering more services could see normal hours restored in the future, a councillor said.
The proposal to reduce the opening hours and to close on Saturdays met with an angry response from the public during the consultation period.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East councillors’ allowances are expected to be frozen for the next year as Cheshire East cuts back on its spending.
A recommendation in the budget, which goes to full council on February 22, urges councillors to consider freezing their allowances for the 2023/24 financial year.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Tory councillors have demanded to know why Cheshire East Council is not selling off or re-using derelict buildings instead of proposing staff and service cuts.
Members of the children and families committee met to discuss the medium term financial strategy 2023-27 where savings have to be made as the council struggles to balance its books as costs rise, inflation soars and demand on the service grows.
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