Cheshire East leader Nick Mannion said the council's road to securing financial sustainability 'does not mean cutting services to the bone'.

The council leader was speaking at cabinet on Thursday, August 3, in response to the recently published review from CIPFA (The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy).

CIPFA reported that: "Cheshire East is finally facing up to the consequences of decisions deferred, problems ignored, and opportunities missed over more than a decade.

"It is in a genuine turnaround situation, has made real progress over the past six months, but still has a long way to go."

Cheshire East has had to rely on exceptional financial support (EFS) agreed by government to balance its books over the past two years.

But the report praised the impact of Ashley Hughes, executive director of resources and S151 officer, since his arrival in June last year.

It states: "The approach to EFS is, however, markedly more strategic this time.

"The S151's clear ambition is to use it as a bridge to sustainability rather than a recurring sticking plaster, with transformation savings from 2027/28 providing an off-ramp from further support.

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"Asset disposals, new housing development, a potential revision to the council tax reduction scheme, and a star chamber approach to in-year underspends all form part of the recovery toolkit."

Cllr Mannion (Macclesfield, Lab) told the cabinet meeting: "Whilst there is still much to do, their review identifies that the council has moved from recognition to genuine and credible turnaround…

"CIPFA have conditional confidence that we will recover if our plans convert to those outcomes. Our job is to show delivery of them.

"The bottom line is we need to deliver at pace to rebuild the council's resilience and secure financial sustainability.

"I must stress that does not mean cutting services to the bone but a balancing of efficiency, income, local service delivery, growth and economic development."