Mark Whitehead 16 February 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

Parks & Countryside Officer (Level 2)

Essex County Council
£28509.0000 - £31058.0000 per annum
Maldon District Council is working in partnership with Essex Shared Services to support the role of Parks and Countryside Officer (Level 2), a full-t England, Essex, Maldon
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Repairs Administrator - Basildon Borough Council

Essex County Council
Up to £14.5700 per hour
Repairs Administrator - Basildon Borough Council Basildon, Essex £14.57 PAYE / £18.66 Umbrella per hour Temporary Contract Full-Time, 36.25 hour per w England, Essex, Billericay
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Enhanced Social Work Practitioner

Durham County Council
Grade 12 - £44,075 - £48,226 per annum. Pay award pending.
Do you believe every child deserves to grow up surrounded by love, family, and a sense of belonging?   Are you an experienced social worker ready to p Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Principal Accountancy Assistant

Durham County Council
£38,220 to £41,771 p.a. (Grade 10) Pay award pending
We are currently recruiting for two Principal Accountancy Assistant positions, one of the posts is within the Financial Technical Accounting Team, sup Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Lecturer in Health, Care and Education

Durham County Council
Grade 9, £35,412 - £39,152 pro rata per annum. Pay award pending.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated Lecturer with experience in Health & Social Care and Education who is passionate about helping adults Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner