By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council is facing a predicted overspend of £27 million by the end of the financial year because its children’s and adults’ services are failing to operate within budget.
A report to the finance sub-committee revealed the adults and health committee is forecast to be overspent by £20m at the end of March next year.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council’s “inadequate” Ofsted rating for its children’s services could cost the council up to £15 million to put right and not the £2m it has budgeted for, Conservatives claim.
The service was judged to be “inadequate” overall after inspectors found the experiences and progress of care leavers to be inadequate.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Plans to use a rural outbuilding near Nantwich for pet and horse cremations have been recommended for approval.
But the application, which includes two incinerators at the rural building at Doddington Mill House, off Mill Lane in Doddington, has been “called in” by local councillor Janet Clowes.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Conservative group leader has asked what the council will be consulting on over parking charges because the report is “so short on detail”.
Cllr Janet Clowes also believes the council is missing a big opportunity if it does not explore the option of joining the national parking platform (NPP).
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Plans for a new primary school in Nantwich have been given the go-ahead – although concerns were raised about the lack of parking.
The one-form entry school, which will accommodate 210 children and include additional resources provision for pupils with special educational needs, will be built on vacant land off Richard Gibson Road.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council chiefs have been criticised for failing to mention a retrospective pay rise was already being considered when it consulted with the public on proposals to freeze councillors allowances for 2023/4.
As reported last week, the council’s corporate policy committee agreed to recommend that councillors’ basic allowance be increased by £500 a year and be backdated for 2022/3.
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.
Councillors in Willaston and Wistaston met with Roads Minister Richard Holden to air concerns about the state of local roads caused by utility works.
Mr Holden, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Roads & Local Transport) Department of Transport. met with Cllr Allen Gage (Willaston), Margaret Simon (Wistaston) and Janet Clowes (Wybunbury)
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Conservatives are proposing an amendment to the budget urging the council to develop a lane rental scheme to charge utility companies which dig up roads.
The suggestion was first put forward by group leader Janet Clowes (Wybunbury) at a meeting of the corporate policy committee.
EXCLUSIVE
More than £20 million of Council Tax has not been collected by Cheshire East Council in the past three years, we can reveal.
Figures obtained under FOI show there is a staggering £20,8m of outstanding Council Tax debt from the years 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22.
The current leader of the Conservatives at Cheshire East Council has welcomed a “public interest” report which has lifted the lid on the regime under former leader Michael Jones.
The Grant Thornton report highlights a regime of “bullying” and “intimidatory behaviour” during Mr Jones’ time as leader between 2012-2015.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Labour leader says the recession was made in Downing Street and now we’re all paying the price with tax hikes, increased interest charges and higher inflation.
Cllr Sam Corcoran, speaking in response to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s autumn statement, said over the last decade the Conservatives “have hollowed out public services and the economy”.
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