Tip closures among council's budget plans

Cheshire East Council's leader Sam Corcoran warned of "difficult decisions"

Three tips could close, staffing costs could be cut and parish councils could be asked to contribute towards libraries and leisure services, as part of Cheshire East Council’s budget for the next financial year.

The authority launched its consultation on its finances for the 12 months with 29 proposals to cut costs.

These measures would be alongside a 4.99% planned rise in council tax.

Sam Corcoran, the Labour leader of the council, said “really difficult decisions” would have to be made.

Cheshire East Council listed plans to reduce costs in a range of services it provided.

The largest savings would be made in adult social care - with a £5.6m saving proposed - and children’s services, where there are proposals to save £5.2m.

In its corporate services division, it listed proposals to save £4.8m.

These include cutting spending on leadership by leaving vacant posts unfilled and charging parish and town councils for all parish-related elections.

There were also planned saving of £3.2m by reducing staffing costs through aiming to “eliminate” agency spending as far as possible and cutting overtime payments for staff.

Cheshire East Council has taken steps to cut costs in the current financial year - including the decision to close its headquarters

There were proposals to save £4m in the Environmental and Communities division.

This would include a review of leisure services - which will be considered by a committee in the coming weeks after a consultation - which could save £1.3m by reviewing pricing and getting contributions for services from town and parish councils.

The authority was also looking to save £750,000 through a reduction of household waste sites to just have four main sites in Alsager, Crewe, Knutsford and Macclesfield, ahead of a full review of waste management later this year.

The council currently also has waste sites in Bollington, Middlewich and Poynton.

A garden waste collection charge - which comes into force next week at £56 - could increase to £59.

Cost saving plans in highways and transport include “revising maintenance practices” in areas such as winter services, grass cutting and repair works.

It said the “reduction of service levels” would bring savings, with statutory responsibilities to be considered.

The documents also asked for thoughts on other options including cutting bus subsidiaries, moving to black bin collections every three weeks and reviewing spending in arts and culture, and tourism.

However these were not measures included in the current budget proposals.

'Tight control of finances'

Cheshire East Council is currently led by a joint Labour and Independent group administration.

Councillor Corcoran said: “The cost-of-living crisis isn’t just affecting individuals, rising costs are also affecting councils.”

He said the council had “specific issues”, including a low level of reserves and the "financial shock" of the cancellation of HS2.

“Labour, and the Independent group too, are absolutely committed to doing everything that we can to keep tight control of the council’s finances, and really difficult decisions will have to be made,” he added.

The consultation will end on 28 January.