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

Teacher of the Deaf (North East Essex)

Essex County Council
£34000.0000 - £54000.0000 per annum
Teacher of the Deaf (North East Essex)Permanent, Full TimeTeachers Pay and ConditionsLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

IT Support Officer - Rochford District Council

Essex County Council
Up to £15.9900 per hour
IT Support Officer - Rochford District Council Rochford, Essex Full-Time, Temporary - 37 hours per week 3-Month Contract £15.99 PAYE / £20.51 Umbrella England, Essex, Rochford
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Experienced Social Worker

Cheshire East Council
£43,149 - £49,658 per annum
Join a council that puts relationships at the heart of practice. Macclesfield/ Crewe
Recuriter: Cheshire East Council

Personal Advisor

Cheshire East Council
£32,578 - £35,570 per annum
Help shape brighter futures for care leavers Crewe, Cheshire
Recuriter: Cheshire East Council

Social Worker (Progressed)

Cheshire East Council
£40,444 - £43,149 per annum
Join our ambitious Children's Services team and help shape brighter futures for children and young people. Macclesfield, Cheshire
Recuriter: Cheshire East Council
Linkedin Banner