Cheshire East Council’s Financial Challenge — and What It Means for Congleton
Local authorities across the country are facing significant financial pressures — and Cheshire East Council (CEC) is no exception. Although CEC manages an annual budget of £427 million, almost 70% of this is spent on adult and children’s social care, leaving limited funds for other essential services such as highways, parks, and environmental maintenance.
Despite receiving £25.3 million in Exceptional Financial Support from the Government to help balance its budgets, CEC still faces a loss of £3.1 million by March 2026 (less than 1% of total budget), increasing to £33 million the following year (2026-27) due to inflation, rising costs, and increased demand. These pressures will inevitably affect services across the borough, including Congleton.
Budget Consultation
CEC recently carried out a Budget Prioritisation Consultation, inviting residents to share their views on which services should take priority. The consultation has now closed, and the findings will inform the draft budget due to be considered by Full Council in February 2026.
While CEC is legally required to provide certain services, it has limited flexibility over their quality or scope. Many residents will already have noticed the effects of reduced funding — fewer road and pavement repairs, less frequent highway weeding and gulley emptying, and the closure or transfer of public toilets to town and parish councils, often without funding for cleaning or maintenance.
This ongoing reduction in services has raised concerns locally, with Congleton residents highlighting these issues in the town council’s own community consultations.
Devolution of Services
Across Cheshire East, discussions are underway about the devolution of services — the potential transfer of certain responsibilities from CEC to town and parish councils.
At present, there is no clear commitment that funding will accompany any devolved services. In some cases, local councils may be asked to take them on at their own expense, as has already happened with public toilets. This uncertainty means that difficult decisions lie ahead about which services can realistically be managed and funded locally.
What Congleton Town Council Already Does
Congleton Town Council is one of the largest in Cheshire East and already delivers a wide range of valued local services.
A key example is the Streetscape Service, which was transferred to the Town Council with partial financial support from CEC (covering around 50% of its costs).
The Streetscape team looks after many of Congleton’s public spaces, including:
- Congleton Park, play areas, and open spaces
- Grass and hedge cutting, plus minor tree works
- Seasonal planting in the park, Mountbatten Way, and town centre
- Emptying over 200 litter and dog waste bins daily
- Litter picking and fly-tip removal
As CEC has reduced its maintenance services, residents and volunteer groups have stepped up to help with weeding and verge care — often supported by the Streetscape team. While this community spirit is greatly appreciated, the town council believes such work should be the responsibility of properly funded councils.
Supporting a Vibrant Community
Congleton Town Council works hard to ensure the town remains a great place to live, work, and visit. It delivers and supports a wide variety of local events and services, including:
- The Paddling Pool — one of only two remaining in Cheshire
- Annual community events such as the Christmas Lights Switch-On, Food & Drink Festival, Green Fayre, Summer Play Days, and Remembrance Parade
- Congleton in Bloom, supported by dedicated volunteer groups
- Congleton Information Centre
- Management and maintenance of the Town Hall, including hosting events that generate additional income
How the Town Council Is Funded
Congleton Town Council’s income comes primarily from two sources:
- The Precept – This forms part of residents’ Council Tax, collected by CEC.
The average Band D household contributes £117.41 per year (2025/26), generating a total income of £1,333,233 for the Town Council.
| Band | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H |
| Annual Charge (£) | 78.27 | 91.32 | 104.36 | 117.41 | 143.50 | 169.59 | 195.68 | 234.82 |
- Service Level Agreement (SLA) – CEC contributes around 50% of the Streetscape Service costs through this agreement.
To maintain current service levels, the town council would need to increase its precept to keep pace with inflation and rising costs. This would equate to an increase of approximately £1 per month (£12 per year) for a Band D household, generating an additional £136,260.
If the town council is to take on more services devolved from CEC, more significant increases would be required, as illustrated below:
| Increase per Month | Increase per Year | Additional Income Generated |
| £3 | £36 | £408,700 |
| £5 | £60 | £681,300 |
Have Your Say
Congleton Town Council wants to hear your views on which services should be prioritised if more responsibilities are devolved.
Any additional services will require additional funding — and with no guarantee of financial support from Cheshire East Council, careful planning is essential to maintain the high standards our community expects.
Areas currently under consideration include:
- Taking responsibility for public toilets, at the bus station, market area, and Congleton Park
- Managing highway weeding and grass cutting
- Maintaining additional green spaces and parks
- Improving town centre lighting, surfaces, benches, and pedestrian safety
- Supporting local bus services linking new estates, the railway station, hospital, and town centre
- Providing more facilities for young people
- Improving Paddling Pool facilities, including toilets and changing areas
- Taking responsibility for Congleton Market
Do you have other priorities or ideas?
Please share your views in our short survey, open until 6 December.
The survey takes only a few minutes to complete and will help shape the 2026/27 budget, ensuring future decisions reflect local priorities. Visit: www.surveymonkey.com/r/CTCServices
Working Together for Congleton
Despite the challenges ahead, Congleton Town Council remains committed to protecting local services and maintaining the town’s high standards.
By working together — residents, volunteers, and both councils — we can ensure that Congleton continues to thrive as a vibrant, well-cared-for community.
