Community News: Cheshire East’s finances are on track ... but Council Tax set to rise

Cheshire East Council’s sound financial management is protecting frontline services and easing the pressure to find additional savings.

Cabinet today backed several key pre-budget reports that reveal the authority is on course to deliver a balanced budget in 2018-19, while protecting key frontline services and delivering on its core outcomes for residents.

It follows a pre-Budget Consultation 2018-21, launched in November, which set out initial proposals for how the council could target resources more effectively and save money – while achieving balanced finances. 

Key proposals include earmarking £2m from the New Homes Bonus scheme, to be used in our communities via a method under consideration.

Following extensive consultation, the proposed revenue budget is balanced for 2018-19 with net revenue spending of £267.9m and total capital investment of £326.1m identified over the next three years. A total of £197m is estimated to be spent over the next three years on maintaining and improving our highways network.

Cheshire East invited feedback from residents, businesses, councillors, staff, town and parish councils and other stakeholders to inform decisions. This consultation will be an ongoing process over the next three years.

As a listening authority, the council has reflected on people’s comments and amended some of its proposed savings. These include:

• Keeping all libraries open – axing proposals to close those in Alderley Edge, Disley and Prestbury;
• A reduction in the savings to be found from highways from £500,000 to £150,000; 
• Scaling back a reduction to bus route subsidies from £1.57m to £1.1m – ensuring 97 per cent of subsidised services are retained.

The latest financial reports take place against a challenging national background of an overall public sector deficit – which is being partly met by big reductions in government grants to councils – and rising demand for both adult social care and children in care.

For Cheshire East, this means expected reductions of central government grants, inflationary costs and rising demand totalling more than £70m over the next three years.

The council proposes to meet this financial challenge via a mix of tax increases and changing our service offer. The aim is to make the council financially self-sufficient by reducing its reliance on central government revenue support grant from £40m in 2015/16 to nil in 2020.

It is now proposed to increase Council Tax by 5.99 per cent to invest in essential frontline services. This would add up to £1.28 per week to the average household Council Tax bill. A Band D property bill would rise from £1,324.92 to £1,404.28 – an increase of £1.53 per week.

Importantly, three per cent of the proposed tax rise will boost services for the vulnerable elderly. It follows a similar 4.99 per cent increase in 2017 and a 3.75 per cent increase in 2016, after five years of Council Tax freeze.

Tough choices have to be made, once again, to ensure Cheshire East can target services to people who need them most. Locally funding services puts control back with local people but also comes with the responsibility to fund them in a sustainable way.

Councillor Paul Bates, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member for finance and communications, said: “These reports, backed by cabinet, outline how the council has continued to build on the achievements of recent years and maintains strong overall financial health, performance, resilience and value for money.

“This financial year presented a number of challenges for all UK local authorities, as issues such as inflation and increasing demand in care services for children and adults were compounded by falls in government funding – a funding reduction totalling £12.4m for Cheshire East. This is set to fall by a further £12.9m in 2018/19.

“In Cheshire East, the number of residents receiving care and support from adult social care is increasing by four per cent a year and the number of children in social care placements has increased by 17 per cent in the last year, in line with other councils.

“Adult social care services across the whole country experienced rising caseloads and increasing complexity of care needs, as well as rising costs from minimum wage requirements for care providers. However, these factors were particularly significant for Cheshire East, as the number of people aged over 65 is already above the national average – and is rising faster than average.

“The council’s net expenditure on adult social care services was almost £100m in 2016/17, which is equivalent to three-times the required spending on any other service area. This council will always prioritise services for vulnerable people, despite the financial challenges. But this means other services will have to deliver savings.

“Robust action is being taken across the authority to reduce budgetary pressures and ensure balanced finances – as we have successfully done in previous years. And we will be lobbying the government again to ensure future financial settlements will continue to allow us to achieve this, while protecting essential frontline services.

“We are aware, however, that local areas have differing priorities and, to support this, the budget contains a proposal to set aside £2m of revenue from the New Homes Bonus over the next two years.

“Against a backdrop of challenging circumstances, it is pleasing to note the council is set to deliver a financial outturn within 0.05 per cent of its net budget in 2017-18, in line with our forecast, with a projected overspend of just £100,000 out of a net budget of £264.8m. It is also delivering significant achievements against the council’s corporate plan and wider business plans that will help ensure Cheshire East remains a great place to live, work, visit and do business.”

Jan Willis, Cheshire East Council’s director of finance and procurement, said: “There is a fine balance between making efficiencies in services and still enabling services to meet residents’ needs. This council will continue to look for innovative ways to make every pound deliver the best outcome for local people.”

Cheshire East Council is the third-largest unitary authority in the North West, responsible for delivering more than 500 services, supporting more than 370,000 local residents.

● The budget and Council Tax for 2018-19 will be decided by a vote of elected members at the February 22 meeting of full council.

Community News: Invitation to Consultation Event - Transport for the North, Strategic Transport Plan

Earlier this month, Cheshire East Council launched its draft Strategic Transport Plan, which sets out how they want to drive economic growth and create a more successful North through improving transport connections.

For the first time, the North is speaking with one voice on what is a transformational vision for the region. To ensure that the Plan continues to meet the needs of everyone across the North, there will now be a 13-week public consultation.

Members of the local community are invited to a consultation event in Crewe on Monday 19 February where you can find out more about the recommendations and provide feedback that will influence the final Plan before it is submitted to Government later this year.

Strategic Transport Plan Consultation event – Crewe
(Crewe Alexandra Stadium)

February 19 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Crewe Alexandra Stadium, Gresty Road, Crewe, CW2 6EB

For more information about the event and to register visit the consultation event website.

A full list of events and more information on the consultation are available here. Please do register your details via the website to be kept up-to-date.  If you have any questions, please do get in touch.

Winter Wellbeing – Cheshire East Advises on Norovirus and Germ Prevention

Norovirus, which causes diarrhoea and vomiting, is one of the most common stomach bugs in the UK and is highly contagious. It’s also called the ‘winter vomiting bug’, because it’s more common at this time of the year.

You can catch it by touching contaminated surfaces, having close contact with an infected person or by consuming contaminated food or water.

While norovirus can be very unpleasant, it normally clears up by itself in a few days and you don’t usually need to get medical advice. However, you should get advice if there’s a risk of a more serious problem, such as your symptoms haven’t started to improve after a few days or you have a long-term health condition, such as kidney disease.

Councillor Liz Wardlaw, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for health, said: “As norovirus can spread to others very easily and there’s no specific treatment for it, the advice to residents is to try and avoid going to your GP if you have the bug. Instead, if you are concerned or need any advice, ring your surgery or NHS 111.

“There are also some simple precautions you can take to help prevent the virus from spreading, including washing your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water – particularly after using the toilet and before preparing food – disinfecting any surfaces or objects that could be contaminated and not sharing towels or flannels.

“You should also stay off work and keep any affected children away from school or nursery until at least 48 hours after the symptoms have cleared.”

There is lots of information and advice about norovirus available online at: www.nhs.uk/conditions/norovirus.

Cllr Wardlaw said: “If you do fall ill with norovirus this winter, the best thing to do is to stay at home until you're feeling better. As it’s a virus, antibiotics won’t help your symptoms but there are a few things you can do to lessen the effects.

  

“Advice includes drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, taking paracetamol for any fever or aches and pains, getting plenty of rest and, if you feel up to it, eating plain foods, such as soup, rice, pasta and bread.”

For further winter-related advice, visit: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/livewell and scroll down to the winter wellbeing section. Advice can also be found on the council’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/cheshireeastcouncil and on Twitter at @CheshireEast

Residents can help friends and neighbours, who do not have internet access, by downloading and printing off information from the website and giving it to them.

New Transport Infrastructure Skills Board Launched to Boost Jobs and Skills Opportunities

A group of Network Rail apprentices

A newly-formed Transport Infrastructure Skills Board has been launched by Cheshire East Council’s arms-length Skills and Growth Company.

The board builds on other rail sector skills development and brings together major employers such as Network Rail, Atkins (part of SNC Lavalin) and Jacobs with education and training providers, local colleges and universities, alongside policy makers and HS2 Ltd to identify and address the skills issues and challenges facing the sector.

The board will work collaboratively to ensure local provision of education, training, apprenticeships, careers advice and vocational training are fit for purpose.

With many major investment projects in the pipeline, such as the proposed HS2 high-speed rail track and station investment in and around Crewe and local road upgrades –  including the Congleton and Middlewich bypass schemes – the future looks very bright for the sector. 

Around 200 businesses associated with the rail industry are based in Cheshire East – which is around nine times the UK average.

Employment opportunities are set to increase substantially as the current ageing workforce retires, with major infrastructure projects, such as HS2, predicted to create around 25,000 new jobs and 2,000 apprenticeships nationally.

There is also a growing need to ‘upskill’ the current workforce to keep pace with new technology and design techniques, while ensuring businesses can remain competitive.

Cheshire East Councillor George Hayes, chairman of the Skills and Growth Company, said: “The rail sector is growing in significance and we want to ensure Cheshire East retains its place at the heart of the rail industry, whilst also maximising the opportunities in the other associated sectors, such as construction.

“With so many opportunities for jobs and progression in these industries, it is essential that we equip our young people with the skills and awareness to flourish and sustain future growth.”

James Richards, Network Rail’s engineering capability manager, said: “I welcome the launch of this skills board. It will enable employers to work more effectively with training providers and policy makers to provide us with the highly-skilled workforce we need and contribute to the wider awareness of the sector from schools through to colleges and universities.”

Cheshire East Council Unveils Strategy for Managing Flood Risk Across Borough

Residents and businesses can find out how Cheshire East Council and partner agencies will deal with any threat of flooding in the future – following publication of the authority’s flood risk management strategy.

As a lead local flood authority, the council’s responsibilities are outlined in the local flood risk management strategy, which identifies measures to be undertaken by all partners, including residents, to reduce the risk of flooding in Cheshire East, to protect homes, businesses and other infrastructure. 

The strategy increases awareness of flood risk in the borough, from surface water, groundwater and watercourses. It also aims to reduce the impact of flooding and increase resilience in the community.

The council has finalised its strategy using feedback from residents following a public consultation carried out in August and September. Responsibilities include the recording and investigating of incidents of ‘significant’ flooding and identifying structures and features which could have an effect on flood risk.

Councillor Don Stockton, cabinet member for environment, said: “This strategy is our statement of intent as to how we will manage flood risk in Cheshire East.  We hope it will help our residents and businesses to become better informed about our responsibilities as a local flood authority and how we can all work together to mitigate flood risk and to manage any emergencies.”

To read the full strategy document visit: cheshireeast.gov.uk/highways_and_roads/highway-services/flood-risk-management/flood-risk-management.aspx

Cheshire East Launches Nominated Neighbour Scheme

Front of Card

Cheshire East Council and its partners are offering a range of advice and support to residents on how to keep warm, well and safe this winter.

This week, we urge residents to consider joining the council’s trading standards’ ‘nominated neighbour’ scheme.

The nominated neighbour scheme has been developed to tackle bogus callers, rogue traders and other means of distraction thefts and burglaries.

The project enables people to be protected by someone they know and trust, such as a neighbour or relative.

The vulnerable person is given a card they hold up to a window or door, which advises any unidentified or unexpected caller to go to the address of a nominated neighbour or speak to them over the phone. This person will then check the caller’s identity.

If they are genuine, the nominated neighbour will return with them and supervise the visit to make sure that nothing untoward takes place and will remain there until the caller has left.

Reverse of Card

Councillor Janet Clowes, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for adult social care and integration, which includes responsibility for safer communities, said: “This scheme helps people within our communities feel safer in dealing with unwanted or unexpected people who call at their homes. In turn, it protects our residents and reduces incidents of doorstep crime.

“When the nominated neighbour card is shown to the caller, it replaces any need for the occupant to speak with that person.

“A genuine caller will not mind following the instructions and we believe that no criminal, who preys on the elderly or vulnerable, would like this type of scrutiny.”

While it is older and vulnerable adults who are more at risk from becoming victims of doorstep crime, anyone can be targeted. That’s why all Cheshire East residents are urged to consider joining the scheme.

If you would like a nominated neighbour scheme pack sent to you, or to a vulnerable relative or resident of Cheshire East, contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 040506. By calling that number, you can also report problems with doorstep callers or traders

For further winter wellbeing advice, visit: cheshireeast.gov.uk/livewell and scroll down to the winter wellbeing section.

Advice can also be found on the council’s Facebook page at: facebook.com/cheshireeastcouncil and on Twitter at @CheshireEast

Residents can help friends and neighbours, who do not have internet access, by downloading and printing off information from the website and giving it to them.

Winter Wellbeing – Accessing the Right Health Services for Your Needs

Cheshire East Council and its partners are offering a range of advice and support to residents on how to keep warm, well and safe this winter. This week, residents are urged to make sure they access the right health services for their needs.

During the winter months, health services can become overwhelmed through greatly increased demand.  To help limit the impact, it’s important that you are aware of which service is right for you at a given time. The advice is to:

• Call NHS 111 if you urgently need medical help or advice but it is not a life-threatening situation. You can also call NHS 111 if you're not sure which NHS service you need

• Call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk

• Visit a walk-in centre or minor injuries unit if you have a minor illness or injury (cuts, sprains or rashes) and it can’t wait until your GP surgery is open

• Ask your local pharmacist for advice – your pharmacist can give you advice for many common minor illnesses, such as diarrhoea, minor infections, headache, travel advice or sore throats

• Make an appointment with your GP if you are feeling unwell and it is not an emergency.

If you start to feel unwell, even if it is just a cough or cold, don’t wait until it gets more serious – get help from your pharmacist. The sooner you get advice the better.

If you’ve been prescribed antibiotics or other medication, don’t forget to pick up your prescription before the Christmas holidays start, as many GP surgeries and pharmacies will be closed during that time.

Make sure you also speak to your pharmacist about medicines you should have in stock to help get you and your family through the winter season. Also check to see if older neighbours, relatives and friends have the medication they need.

If you do need help over the holiday period, when your GP surgery or pharmacy is closed, call NHS 111 or visit www.nhs.uk, where you can be directed to a local service that is open.

Councillor Liz Wardlaw, cabinet member for health at Cheshire East Council, said: “Residents have a range of services they can access if they feel unwell or need advice during winter. But it’s important that the services they do access are appropriate to their needs.

“You can do your part in helping to take the strain off health services by stocking up on medication before the Christmas holidays, keeping an eye on vulnerable members of the community and ensuring you get help and advice as soon as you start to feel unwell.”

For further winter wellbeing advice, visit: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/livewell and scroll down to the winter wellbeing section. Advice can also be found on the council’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/cheshireeastcouncil and on Twitter at @CheshireEast

Residents can help friends and neighbours, who do not have internet access, by downloading and printing off information from the website and giving it to them.

Businesses Offered Free Advice to Help Solve Their Funding Puzzles

Cheshire East Council is inviting businesses from across the borough to learn about the business support and funding available for growth projects.

The free-to-attend lunchtime event on 25 January, provided by the authority’s arms-length Skills and Growth Company, will have guest speakers discussing the funding available to help your business grow.

The event will cover the practical support available to improve your chances of securing finance, as well as the government-backed lending scheme Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF), which has been set up to provide more than £400m of investment to businesses.

After the speakers there will be a networking lunch, where there will be an opportunity to meet with a range of funding and business support specialists.

Speakers at the Alderley Park Conference Centre event will include representatives of The British Business Bank, The Skills and Growth Company’s ‘access 2 finance service’ and successful grant applicants, who will share their experience of applying and receiving grant funding. This will include a panel discussion from the speakers, with a question and answer session.

Nantwich-based Frank Olsen Furniture will be one of the businesses taking part following their £25,000 funding from the NPIF, which is helping fuel their growth and create new jobs.

To book on the event, which will run from 11.30am to 2pm at Alderley Park, go online at: www.skillsandgrowth.co.uk/events.  Alternatively, call the Skills and Growth Company on 0300 1235001.

Cheshire East Councillor George Hayes, chairman of the Skills and Growth Company, said: “This event offers expert insight and advice into the range of support available to businesses looking to grow.

“Securing the right finance needed for growth can be difficult and we hope this event will help businesses to build upon their successes by showcasing the range of financial support available to them.”

Council Leader Salutes Staff as Icy Blast Grips Borough

The view from Bulkeley Hill over the weekend

Almost 1,000 tonnes of salt were used to treat Cheshire East’s roads over the weekend after heavy snow and freezing temperatures hit the borough.

Snow began to fall in Cheshire East on Friday, with much of it seen in the south and west, as well as on high ground.

Since then, highways teams have been working round the clock to keep the network moving and have continually been monitoring the weather conditions.

On Saturday, highways teams carried out four full treatments of the network and hand gritted in town centres. Yesterday, treatments were carried out in the morning and afternoon, with four routes in the south receiving an additional treatment.

Highways teams also stepped in and ploughed along the A534, near the Bickerton Poacher, after a small number of vehicles became stuck in the snow.

Today, the network has already received one full treatment and all main routes are currently clear. Hand gritting is also being carried out in town centre and footpaths are being checked.

The council’s adverse weather desk has also been in action 24 hours a day over the weekend.

Councillor Rachel Bailey, leader of Cheshire East Council, “I’d like to thank staff for their hard work over the weekend in helping to tackle the effects of the heavy snow and freezing temperatures on our roads.

“While we’ve already used almost 1,000 tonnes of salt to treat the road network, we will be receiving fresh deliveries today and later this week and still have more than 4,000 tonnes in stock.

“Almost 750 miles of road are treated each time we grit but we cannot ensure that all roads will be clear of snow and ice. I therefore urge residents to take care in adverse driving conditions or when out walking.

“I’d also like to remind motorists that when we treat the road network, the salts are not fully effective until they are ‘activated’ by vehicles.”

The Met Office has advised that daylight temperatures across Cheshire East will be between 0C and -2C today, falling to between -4C and -10C overnight. Tuesday is expected to be another cold day.

Cllr Bailey added: “It was great to see so many families out enjoying the snow this weekend. However, it’s important to remember that not everyone copes well in cold weather, so keep in touch.

“Elderly friends, family members and neighbours may need extra help and support and I’d urge residents to check in on them where possible. A quick phone call could make all the difference to them.”

To keep up to date with gritting operations, or to view the gritting routes, follow Cheshire East highways on Twitter at: @CECHighways or visit: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/winter.

The service can also be contacted on 0300 123 5020 for any enquiries or to report debris on roads and other hazards.

Cheshire East's New Strategy Seeks to Help Rough Sleepers and Avoid Homelessness

Have your say on the Council's homelessness strategy - last chance to participate is Thursday 14 December

The nine-week consultation on Cheshire East Council’s draft homelessness strategy ends on 14th December.

The council has been working with a number of groups and organisations to draft a strategy aimed at reducing the problem of homelessness and providing the right services for the homeless.

Statutory bodies, the voluntary sector, charities and faith groups as well as local businesses, have all been involved in contributing to the strategy, which can be viewed on the council’s website.

Forty people, representing various organisations, including charities and faith groups, social housing providers and the police, attended a successful event at Crewe Alexandra FC football stadium in November.

Improving communication and links with the wider community is one suggestion that will be acted upon, as well as the forging of stronger relationships with the council to prevent and reduce homelessness. A number of other positive ideas and suggestions emerged from the meeting.  

The strategy and consultation coincide with the imminent implementation of the government’s Homelessness Reduction Act, which comes into effect on 3 April 2018.  

Councillor Ainsley Arnold, cabinet member for housing, planning and regeneration, said: “Homelessness is an issue that councils, like Cheshire East, wish to deal with in the most positive and sensitive way, working with partners to reduce the number of people sleeping on our streets or who do not have a place they can call home.

“Like many authorities, this council is aware that the problem of homelessness needs to be addressed so that the right measures can be put in place to prevent people from losing the roof over their heads.

“We have received a great many positive ideas from the groups we have engaged with and these suggestions will be incorporated into the feedback from the consultation.

“I want to thank all those organisations and individuals who have contributed to this consultation.”

The council’s current homelessness strategy (2014-17) must be reviewed and a new strategy – from 2018 to 2022 – approved. The new draft strategy contains four key priorities:

·         To help secure appropriate, affordable accommodation for the homeless;

·         To take steps to prevent homelessness;

·         Avoid rough sleeping wherever possible; and

·         Ensure appropriate support to help people stay in their accommodation.

The council is eager to tackle the detrimental effects of homelessness, such as the impact on family life and children, an individual’s physical and mental health, including the loss of self-esteem and confidence and the impact it can have on the local economy, leading to unemployment.

While homelessness in the borough has risen, this is put down to a number of factors, including family or tenancy issues.  However, the number of cases where homelessness has been prevented, has also risen year on year.

To view the new draft Homelessness Strategy visit: http://bit.ly/2Ac60wp

To view the current 2014-17 Homelessness Strategy visit: http://bit.ly/2BeeCqc