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

Business Support Assistant

Essex County Council
Up to £25959.00 per annum
Business Support AssistantFixed Term, Full Time£25,959 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

School Crossing Patrol Officer

Essex County Council
Up to £13.4600 per hour
School Crossing Patrol Officer Chelmsford, Essex Part-Time, Temporary 7.5 hours per week, term-time only Up to 6 Months £13.46 PAYE / £17.24 Umbrella England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Cleaner and Caretaker

North Yorkshire Council
£13.28 - £13.47 per hour
You will be a valued member of our team who will be reliable, dependable and have a strong work ethic. Whitby, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Mobile Cleaning Supervisor

North Yorkshire Council
£25,621 - £25,989
This is a varied and rewarding role that combines cleaning, caretaking, and supervisory duties, offering no two days the same. Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Cleaner

North Yorkshire Council
£13.28 per hour
We have an opportunity for you to join North Yorkshire Council working at one of our schools/Sites, Prospect Hill School, Whitby. Whitby, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council
Linkedin Banner