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

Educational Psychologist

North Yorkshire Council
From £47,688 up to £57,954 per annum pro rata, plus relocation support up to £8,000
Are you an EP who is interested in making real change for children, young people, families and schools, at individual and systems level? Selby, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Senior Children Residential Short Breaks Worker

North Yorkshire Council
£34,434 up to £38,220 per annum pro rata
Join us at Cherry Tree Lodge Children’s Resource Centre as we empower and support children and young people Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Locality Team Manager for Disabled Children's Services

North Yorkshire Council
£51,356 to £55,539 per annum pro rata
We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced Locality Team Manager to join our Disabled Children and Young People’s Service Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Young carers keyworker

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £27653.00 per annum
Young carers keyworkerPermanent, Full Time£25,081 - £27,653 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Head of IT

YPO
£76,999 plus £3,000 car allowance and generous benefits package
As our new Head of IT, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of technology across the organisation. North Yorkshire
Recuriter: YPO
Linkedin Banner