CWAC Council Tax rise

CHESHIRE West and Chester 5% council tax increase for 2024

CWAC has published proposals to set a balanced budget, reassuring residents it is not in 'imminent' danger of bankruptcy.

This budget was subject to public consultation, and is set for formal approval by councillors on February 15th.

The current economic climate is incredibly challenging for local government; some councils even facing effective bankruptcy – known as section 114.

The context of huge increases in demand for social care and other services and high levels of inflation, significantly impact on what Councils are able to deliver.

CWAC has identified savings of £29.8m next year, with further savings required between 2025 and 2028.

It is proposing to achieve this through:

• preventative work to reduce demand on the most-costly care services
• reviewing the levels of service provided across other areas of the Council
• further income generation.

At the same time, the Council's budget package also includes significant investment in the future by an increase spend in:

• Adult Social Care by £28m
• Children's Services by £21m
• a recommended £375m investment in the borough's infrastructure over the next four years.

This will include funding for:

• the regeneration of town centres
• housing
• upgrading and improving highways and transport infrastructure
• improve leisure facilities to support the health and wellbeing of its residents.

The Council will spend £990m in 2024-25 on services for local people. These include:

• schools
• social care
• support for people in need
• public protection
• local economic growth
• libraries
• highways
• street cleaning
• bin collections
• a range of other areas which impact on everyone's lives and livelihoods.

A public consultation known as 'Funding our Future' has informed the proposals and the Council is continuing to work on ideas to meet funding pressures for the next four years.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Louise Gittins, said:
"This is without doubt the most demanding financial challenge we have ever faced as a local authority. While we are not at imminent risk of issuing a section 114 notice as some other Councils have done, our budget gap is significant."


"We have identified £29.8m of savings to address the immediate challenge of setting a budget for 2024-25, but will need to make further considerable savings in the future. The 2024-25 funding package provided to Councils by Government includes an assumption they will all raise Council Tax by the maximum level allowed to cover rising costs.Many tough choices need to be made – now and in the future – but we will do everything we can to safeguard the financial sustainability of the Council and continue to support our communities as effectively and compassionately as we possibly can."

Cabinet Member for Legal and Finance, Cllr Carol Gahan, said:
"Cheshire West and Chester Council has long been recognised for managing our limited resources well, and providing the good quality services that our residents and businesses need. However, we face a truly unprecedented challenge. Our Council has never before had to respond to a budget gap of this scale. While we have a legal obligation to set a balanced budget, as well as deliver value for money, we also have a moral obligation to protect those who need our help the most. We are absolutely committed to minimising the impact of our financial position on the communities of our borough. The budget package we have developed reflects the views of those who engaged in our consultation process – including to increase our income to protect key services – and identifies a range of opportunities for us to provide support in new and more cost-effective ways. In doing so, we will continue to prioritise those who need our help the most."


Ensure you keep abreast of proposals and developments, and complete surveys and let your Councillors know your thoughts on the work and priorities of the Council.

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