Social care is one of the largest areas of expense for the council IT is ‘disappointing’ that Rishi Sunak’s 2021 budget does not ‘address social care’, according to Cheshire West and Chester Council’s cabinet member for finance. Mr Sunak, Chancellor, unveiled his spending plans and post-Covid recovery blueprint for the UK on Wednesday (March 3). Cllr Carol Gahan, Labour, added that the government needed to ‘pay attention’ to the issue, which her party said last week was one cause for a 4.99 per cent council tax rise although her opposite number said the council should spend its funds better to avoid such rises.
THE old Blacon Library building is to be converted into a Heron Foods store, it has been confirmed. The sale of the Western Avenue property has now been completed and will be occupied by the discount food retailer. Cheshire West and Chester Council and Avenue Services agreed to sell the building and invest proceeds from the sale back into the Blacon community following a public consultation in 2018. Planning permission is in place to convert the former library site into a 419 square metre convenience store. The permission also allows up to three further smaller units with flexible uses to be developed.
CWAC council tax is in line for an increase NORTHWICH and Winsford residents look set for higher council tax bills from April 1. Cheshire West and Chester Council has announced plans to increase tax by 4.99 per cent for 2021-22 – including three per cent for adult social care. The authority says it is facing a £30 million revenue funding gap in 2021-22 – plus a further £53.4 million black hole between April 2022 and March 2025. CWAC’s proposed tax increase would see residents in Band D properties pay an extra £1.51 a week, and it would be the sixth year running that council tax has been increased.
As a result council tax could rise by 4.99 per cent. The council say it will be setting its budget against a backdrop of financial uncertainty caused by the covid-19 pandemic, the increasing cost of care and continuing delays to national funding reforms for Local Government. The council is also facing a revenue funding gap of £53.4 million in 2022-25. Over the four-year budget planning period, core central government grant funding is forecast to reduce by £10.7m, with a temporary increase of £8.8m in 2021-22, reflecting the significant short-term pressures on the council relating to covid-19. Councillor Carol Gahan, cabinet member for finance and legal, said: “The covid-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for the council, who alongside our public sector and voluntary sector partners, have been at the forefront of the response.
Firms that have closed due to lockdown can get financial support HELP is on hand for businesses struggling through the pandemic in Northwich and Winsford. More than £18 million has been handed over in grants to Cheshire West businesses since November 2020, in more than 11,000 payments, to help see firms through the coronavirus crisis. An additional one-off lump sum payment of up to £9,000 for businesses forced to close under the current national lockdown is also available – meaning non-essential shops, salons, hospitality and indoor leisure businesses could receive a lifeline. Cllr Carol Gahan, cabinet member for legal and finance at Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: The borough’s business community continues to take the brunt of the impact of the coronavirus lockdown. Our hospitality, retail and leisure sectors have been hit hard.