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

Head of Finance - Children & Young People’s Service

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
£75,585 - £80,726 (pay award pending)
This is a great place to work for people who want to make a real difference. Riverside House, Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

MSK Specialist Instructor

North Yorkshire Council
£38,220 - £42,839 per annum, pro rata
We are seeking a passionate and skilled MSK (Musculo-skeletal) Specialist Instructor to join our team Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Business Finance Manager (Commercial Focus)

North Yorkshire Council
£55k plus up to 10% recruitment payment
A Commercial Role – Powered by Public Sector Strength Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Health and Safety Advisor

Durham County Council
£35,412 to £39,152 p.a. (Grade 9) pay award pending
An exciting opportunity has arisen within Health and Safety for a Health and Safety Advisor. This post is temporary to cover a period of maternity le Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Street Lighting Highways Operative

Durham County Council
£28,142 - £31,022 (pay award pending)
Highways Services are looking for a Highways Operative (Street Lighting). To ensure the efficient and effective undertaking of civil engineering activ Peterlee
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner