By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East is forecasting an overspend of £8.86 million in children’s services because of soaring placement costs and because it set ‘unrealistic savings’ in the budget.

Finance officer Diane Green told the children and families committee: “Although numbers of children in care are reducing, the cost of placements in 2025/26 has continued to increase, creating an unbudgeted pressure.”