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

Senior/Principal Regeneration Officer

Fareham Borough Council
£45,465 - £55,379
Our town centre regeneration is moving from planning to delivery, and we're looking for someone who wants to help make regeneration happen. Fareham, Hampshire
Recuriter: Fareham Borough Council

Social Worker

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£40,260 - £54,507
Social Worker£... London
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

S106 and Monitoring Officer

Essex County Council
£49435.1400 - £54930.6000 per annum
Maldon District Council is working in partnership with Essex Shared Services to support the recruitment of the role of a S106 and Monitoring Officer, England, Essex, Maldon
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Trainee Revenues and Benefits Officer (Part Time)

Isle of Wight Council
Career Grade 3-6, £26,017 to £29,071 per annum pro-rata (actual salary £17,227.47 to £19,249.72)
The Benefits team is currently seeking a part-time Trainee Revenues and Benefits Officers Ryde, Isle of Wight
Recuriter: Isle of Wight Council

Legal Officer

Isle of Wight Council
Grade 9, £35,572 to £38,726 per annum
Ideally you will be a qualified paralegal or will offer an equivalent qualification or experience. Newport, Isle of Wight
Recuriter: Isle of Wight Council
Linkedin Banner