CHESHIRE East is set to launch a public consultation on its draft budget for next year.

Councillors are set to approve the launch of the consultation at this week’s cabinet meeting, which is being held tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday).

The meeting will also seek residents’ views on CEC’s draft financial strategy until 2025.

The council is currently facing a pandemic shortfall of £13 million, but this number is much-reduced from the £26 million estimated in October.

The draft consultation says: “We are legally required to set a balanced budget each year, meaning we cannot spend more than our income.

“As part of this process 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."

The budget being consulted on works on the assumption that council tax will be raised by 1.99 per cent annually until 2025.

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

Once the public consultation is concluded, officials will then speak with ‘key stakeholders’ such as CEC 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 full council approval on February 17.