Government rejects Cheshire East's request to increase council tax by nearly 10%

The Government has rejected Cheshire East Council's request to increase council tax by almost 10%.

The Council wrote to the government to request special permission to increase the council tax for the next financial year by just under 9.99%.

They applied to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government last month for permission to increase council tax above the 5% limit.

Local authorities can request exceptional financial support to hike council tax above the cap without the need for a public referendum.

A Cheshire East Council spokesperson said: "Cheshire East Council has been notified today (Monday, 3 February,) that a request for permission to consider raising council tax by up to 9.99 per cent for 2025-26, has been declined by Government.

"The council wrote to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in January, requesting permission under arrangements for exceptional financial support, to propose an increase above the 'referendum limit', as set out by government in the local government finance policy statement 2025 to 2026.

"The potential increase was requested as one of a range of possible measures that could be taken to ensure the council's forecast income aligns to forecast expenditure. All councils must, by law, set a balanced budget each year.

"The proposed budget sets out the council's forecast income and expenditure, with robust savings plans and proposals for the use of exceptional financial support from central government, to ensure that income will cover ongoing costs and future commitments in a sustainable and manageable way.

"The council's corporate policy committee is meeting on 6 February to discuss the proposed budget for 2025-26 and four-year financial strategy. The committee is asked to recommend the budget to council for approval at the council meeting on 26 February. This will include setting council tax for the year ahead.

"The final local government finance settlement: England, 2025 to 2026 has been published today. We are reviewing the latest information from government and will update financial plans as necessary. It will take some time to analyse all the detail."

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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Andy Brown
Tuesday 4th February 2025 at 9:42 am
Good news.

The council needs to do the right thing and issue an S114 notice and then start the process of actually getting their house in order.

Throwing even more of our money doing the same things and expecting a different result is not the approach.
Steven Mccrory
Tuesday 4th February 2025 at 3:15 pm
We all are aware that CE are simply not fit for purpose. Endless wasted failed schemes and ideas, overpaid work from home out of touch individuals that simply have zero idea on anything from tip closures to pot holes. We are all sick of being ripped off, we can find money for immigrants, cycle paths, and other hair brain projects and pay increases but they constantly want more money from us to waste. If the increases could be reflected in services, road repairs, etc people may take a view on them. All we can see is cut backs, more cut backs, and our Roads etc like a 3rd World Country...
David Hadfield
Friday 7th February 2025 at 4:11 pm
I presume the Wilmslow by-pass road comes under the control of Cheshire East ?

If so, why has the road surface already become an utter disgrace and not fit for purpose ... (never mind not fit to drive your car on it) !

It's only a matter of months since the whole road was repaired and re-surfaced, all the way from Handforth Dean to the beginning of the Alderley by-pass.

So, how come it's already broken so quickly ?

The company that did the "repairs" should be made to come back and complete the work properly and correctly again AT THEIR EXPENSE !!
Pete Taylor
Saturday 8th February 2025 at 8:55 am
@David Hadfield, perhaps this is what happens when Councillors award a Highways contract to the same company for TWENTY-TWO years?

https://www.ringway-jacobs.co.uk/news/ringway-jacobs-new-contract-with-cheshire-east-council-begins

Let's think- who was "in charge" back in 2011 and again in 2018?
David Hadfield
Sunday 9th February 2025 at 11:13 am
Thanks for that insight Pete Taylor.
I have viewed your https:// link and one of the statements from Ringway-Jacobs says they are committed to delivering customer satisfaction, value for money, etc, etc,
Well, as far as I'm concerned WE pay our Council Taxes so WE are the final customer and WE should NOT have to drive on broken roads throughout Cheshire.

Cheshire East need to get a grip on this and get our roads repaired CORRECTLY, and NOT accept the shoddy half-baked conditions that are currently seen !
Kelvin Briggs
Tuesday 11th February 2025 at 6:38 pm
Why are Ringway Jacobs marking their own homework?
It’s hard to believe CEC are monitoring the quality of repairs.

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