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

Transport and Major Work Manager

Slough Borough Council
£54,556 to £60,085 per year Inclusive of Local Weighting Allowance of £1096
Drive the future of transport and infrastructure in Slough Slough, Berkshire
Recuriter: Slough Borough Council

Home Support Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 5 - £26,403 - £28,598 pro rata to hours worked (hourly rate - £13.68 rising to £14.82 per hour), (Pay award pending)
We are excited to be expanding our team of Home Support Workers within Bluebell apartments and Hawthron House, a dual scheme comprising of respite / s Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Property Partnership Assistant

Durham County Council
£26,403 to £28,598 p.a. (Grade 5) pay award pending
Are you looking for a new varied role and have experience in income generation, marketing, contract / KPI performance reporting and customer engagemen Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Engineer Hosting and Security

Durham County Council
£35,412 to £39,152 p.a. (Grade 9) pay award pending
A vacancy has arisen within our Hosting and Security Team for an experienced, enthusiastic, and flexible Engineer, with the aim of helping to ensure t Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

GRT Site Warden

Durham County Council
Grade 2 £24,796 - £25,185
We are looking to recruit a Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) Site Warden to support the day-to-day management of our sites. This is an important role i Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner