Mark Whitehead Friday, February 16, 2024

Cheshire East seeks support to avoid Section 114 notice

Cheshire East seeks support to avoid Section 114 notice image
Image: Singkham/Shutterstock.com.

Cheshire East Council is the latest to request help from the Government to avoid having to declare itself effectively bankrupt.

The authority has asked for an extra £17.6m which it says is needed because of costs related to the cancellation of HS2 and special educational needs.

It said the support would reduce the 'imminent risk' of having to issue a Section 114 notice.

The council has £14.1m in its general reserves, but has warned that it may have to use that money to cover shortfalls and is forecasting a £13m overspend in the current financial year.

In December the Local Government Association warned that almost one in five councils in England thought it was very or fairly likely that they would need to issue a Section 114 notice this year or next due to a lack of funding to keep key services running.

In 2018 Northamptonshire was the first local authority to issue a section 114 notice in two decades, and since 2020 a further seven councils in England have followed.

Cheshire East introduced a number of cost saving measures, including charges for garden waste collections, cuts to library opening hours and a decision to close its headquarters.

But the council is set to face further challenges in its next financial year and is proposing measures including temporary tip closures, cutting staffing costs and asking parish councils to contribute to libraries and leisure services.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

RCHW Site Operative

Essex County Council
Up to £25959.00 per annum
RCHW Site OperativePermanent, Part Time£25,959 per annum full time equivalent Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

RCHW Site Operative

Essex County Council
Up to £25959.00 per annum
RCHW Site OperativePermanent, Part Time£25,959 per annum full time equivalent Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Principal Planner

North Yorkshire Council
£47,181 to £51,356 per annum
Are you ready to take the next step in your planning career? Selby, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Principal Planner

North Yorkshire Council
£47,181 - £51,356 per annum
Are you ready to take the next step in your planning career? Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Homelessness Personal Advisor

Essex County Council
£33049.00 - £37698.00 per annum
Homelessness Personal AdvisorFixed Term, Full Time£33,049 - £37,698 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner