CHESHIRE East councillors are about to launch a public consultation on their draft budget for next year as the authority is faced with making tough financial decisions because of Covid-19.

Councillors at the authority's Cabinet meeting this afternoon (Tuesday) will also seek residents' views on the council's draft financial strategy until 2025.

Cheshire East Council is currently facing a pandemic shortfall of £13 million, a figure much reduced from the £26m that was estimated last month.

Finance chiefs are working on the assumption that council tax will need to be raised by 1.99 per cent annually until 2025.

The draft consultation says: "We need to seek the views of residents and businesses regarding priority areas for the year ahead.

"In making such important decisions, we are keen to understand how the Covid-19 crisis has changed priorities, the impact on families, and challenges facing local communities.

"Your views and feedback on our proposals as local people, businesses, organisations, councillors, and staff, are therefore important and will help us to fully understand the impact of the changes required to achieve a financially balanced position."

Should cabinet members give the launch the go-ahead, residents will be able to give their feedback online from tomorrow (December 2).

Once the public consultation is concluded, officials will then speak with key stakeholders such as council staff, councillors, town and parish councils, schools and trade unions.

Their views will then be collated and used to form a final draft of the budget in January, before it is set to go to the full council for approval on February 17.