CHESHIRE East Council claims it is in ‘great shape’ financially and is set to freeze council tax for a fifth year running.


The claims come after financial reports voted through by Cabinet on Wednesday, February 11.


Cllr Peter Raynes, Cabinet member in charge of finance, said: “Our performance in the third quarter of 2014/15 shows we are once again well in control of our budgets.


“We are forecasting a slight under-spend of £200,000 as we achieved in the past two years, and for 2015/16 will meet our target of saving £7.7million without compromising key services.


“The council has achieved permanent savings of £5million in management costs alone over the past two years.


“Our three-quarter-year review demonstrates that the overall financial health, performance, resilience and value for money at Cheshire East Council are strong, despite taking £50m out of our costs base from 2011/12 and freezing Council Tax for the fourth consecutive year. We also propose to freeze Council Tax for a fifth year.”


Reports show Cheshire East Council provides more than 500 services, supporting more than 370,000 residents, and more than 17,500 businesses.


Annual Council spending is more than £750m, with a proposed balanced net budget of £264.7m for 2015/16.


Council Leader, Cllr Michael Jones, said: “This shows that Cheshire East really is in great shape for the future to continue to deliver for our residents.


“Local government is going through a period of unprecedented change and financial challenge. Cheshire East’s response continues to be based on innovation and creativity.


“We will be relentless in the pursuit of greater efficiency and productivity and minimising bureaucracy to enable the Council to deliver a high level of sustainable, quality services for residents.


“We are a ‘residents first’ Council and our approach to finance and formulating a budget underlines that commitment.”