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

Head of Property & Regeneration

Swansea Council
£88,633 - £100,994
We are seeking to appoint an outstanding and experienced professional Swansea (Abertawe)
Recuriter: Swansea Council

Social Worker - Link Family Worker, North Essex

Essex County Council
£36124.0000 - £51834.0000 per annum
Social Worker - Link Family Worker, North EssexPermanent, Full Time£36,124 to £51,834 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Health and Social Care Trainer - North Essex

Essex County Council
£38466.0000 - £45254.0000 per annum
Health and Social Care Trainer - North EssexPermanent, Part Time£29,468 to £34,668 per annum (full time equivalent) Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Housing Service Officer

Kirklees Metropolitan Council
£26,403 - £28,142
Our employees are at the very heart of the services we provide to the community Kirklees, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council
Linkedin Banner