'There will be pain ahead', council leader warns

Nick Mannion became the council's leader in July

The leader of a large council has warned that there will be “pain ahead” as it seeks to turn around its fortunes.

Cheshire East Council has faced financial difficulties in recent months and over the summer signed off a cost-cutting plan to save £91m over the next four years.

Labour’s Nick Mannion, who was elected leader in July, said the council could no longer afford “to do everything everywhere for everybody all the time”.

He also said Cheshire East was looking to provide additional help to around 3,500 pensioners who had lost the winter fuel allowance.

Cheshire East Council signed off a plan to make £91m of savings over the next four years

Speaking at the authority’s full council meeting, Mr Mannion said the authority was having to cope with “extreme pressures in many areas” but it would “honour” its duties to its most vulnerable residents.

He said it had been a “steep learning curve” since he took over the role and that work was ongoing with the council’s transformation programme.

“The next six to nine months are vital but there will be pain ahead,” he warned.

Meanwhile, the council’s deputy leader, Independent group leader Michael Gorman, said the council needed to “unlock” the area’s potential.

“Local government is an integral part of our democracy and needs to be properly funded and supported,” he said.

“The good news is this administration has a plan, a clear and comprehensive plan to secure the financial stability of Cheshire East.”

The council also signed off a new senior management structure and backed a motion to look at its current system of governance, after introducing a committee system in 2021.