Cheshire Independent Issue 201

MAY/JUNE 2025 2 EDITOR: GedHenderson ged@hendersonnewsandmedia.com ADVERTISING: RobinAtkins 07767 840274 robin@cheshireindependent.co.uk CLASSIFIED: JayneMeadowcroft 01204 478812 or 07703 045189 jayne@independentnewspapers.co.uk CONTACT US No part of this publicationmay be used or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure that the articles and advertisements that are carried are authentic, however the publisher accepts no responsibility for claims made. © Investors in Publishing Ltd 2025. This newspaper is publishedmonthly by Investors in Publishing, Publishing House, 3 Bridgebank Industrial Estate,Taylor Street, Horwich, Bolton BL6 7PD. 01204 478812 CHESHIRE East Council has declared it aims to build “on a successful first year” of its transforma- tion plan. The plan is aimed at reshaping the council to better serve residents and communities. An end of year report highlights some of the achievements the local authority says it has made so far and sets the stage for contin- ued progress. Council leader Nick Mannion said: “This report marks the end of a pivotal year for Cheshire East Council. Despite facing sustained financial pressures and external scrutiny, we have laid strong founda- tions for future growth and improvement. Our transformation journey has started well – deliv- ering savings, new tools, structures and disci- plines that will support deeper reform across the organisation. “We enter the next phase of delivery now with clarity, energy and a renewed commit- ment to delivering the services people need in Cheshire East.” The cash-strapped council says that the plan identified up to £91million in savings and income, with “sig- nificant financial ben- efits” expected in the current financial year. It says it has also started to realise sav- ings and new income, including arrangements GOVERNMENT min- isters have shared their “significant concerns” over the financial sustain- ability of Cheshire East Council. The cash-strapped local authority has been handed a Best Value Notice by the govern- ment as a “formal notifi- cation” of those concerns and to highlight the need for improvement. The notice is a for- mal warning issued by central government to local authorities where there are concerns about performance. Ministers also revealed their worries over Chesh- ire’ East’s medium term SPECIAL REPORT GOVERNMENT CONCERN OVER COUNCIL FINANCES Con!dent: Nick Mannion financial strategy. The Notice also speaks of further concerns around leadership capac- ity, governance, scrutiny and culture. In response, the coun- cil, which has received Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) up to £25.3m, to balance its budget shortfall for 2025/26, said that it had made “significant progress” and was put- ting “building blocks in place for sustaina- ble improvement”. The concerns around the non-statutory Best Value Notice were laid out in a letter from the office of local gov- ernment minister Jim McMahon. Rob Polkinghorne, council chief execu- tive, said: “While the MACCLESFIELD MP Tim Roca has vowed that Russian sanctions will not silence him on the subject of Ukraine declaring the action as a “badge of honour”. He is one of 15 UK MPs and six members of the House of Lords that have had sanctions imposed on them, banning them from the country over what it described as “hostile state- ments and unfounded accu- sations” about Moscow. The Russian foreign affairs ministry accused the UK of “fabricating anti-Rus- sian narratives” and attempting to “demonise” the country. The action has targeted parliamentarians who have called for frozen Russian assets to be seized and used in support of Ukraine and its war effort. The Labour MP visited Ukraine in February ahead of the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion. Com- menting on the sanctions’ announcement Mr Roca said: “Frankly, I take it as a badge of honour. “I’ve been a consistent critic of Putin’s illegal and brutal invasion of Ukraine and I won’t stop now. “I’ve seen with my own eyes the devastation this war has caused. I’ve met Ukrainians who’ve lost everything, yet still stand strong in the face of tyr- anny. That kind of courage deserves our continued sup- port – not silence. “This move by the Rus- sian government is noth- ing more than a desperate attempt to intimidate those who speak the truth. It won’t work. If being on Putin’s blacklist means I’m standing up for what’s right, then I’m proud to be on it. “I’ll keep pushing for justice, for freedom, and for Ukraine’s victory. Slava Ukraini.” MP defiant over Kremlin sanctions Visit: Tim Roca, right, on a visit to Ukraine with former Conservative party leader Iain Duncan Smith, left (Photo credit: Tim Roca) Building on progress to generate around £1m for the next financial year and more than £2m in avoided social care placement costs. Council chief executive Rob Polkinghorne said: “Cheshire East Coun- cil has faced unprec- edented challenges head-on, transforming adversity into oppor- tunity. We have made remarkable strides over the last year, laying the building blocks for deliv- ering better outcomes for residents. “Our journey is far from over, and we must deliver the plans we have in place. The future of Cheshire East is bright and full of promise – driven by our shared commitment to enhancing the lives of our residents.” government recognises the steps we are already taking, it requires fur- ther assurance of our ongoing improvement and work towards finan- cial sustainability. “The letter states that the council is expected to continue leading its own improvement and is requested to engage with the department to provide assurance of progress and respond to the expectations set out in the notice which are areas we are already aware of and working hard to address. “We have made sig- nificant progress in the last year with a shared understanding of the challenges and putting the building blocks in place for sustainable improvement includ- ing the transformation plan, new Cheshire East plan, budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy, albeit with the need for Exceptional Finan- cial Support.” Council leader Nick Mannion and dep- uty leader Councillor Michael Gorman, said in a joint statement: “We are confident in our transformation and improvement plans – while we have set our- selves a challenging agenda, we are making good progress. “This is reflected in the report from the Local Government Association (LGA) Peer Challenge revisit which we are able to share. “The report acknowl- edges the council has delivered against key aspects of their rec- ommendations, while recognising that we know ourselves and the improvements we still need to make.”