People living in Cheshire West and Chester are being urged to have a go at balancing the Council’s budget, by using an online budget simulator tool.

The simulator is part of the Council’s annual budget consultation, Join the Budget Conversation, which includes spending and budget proposals reflecting local people’s priorities and aligns with its recent Borough Plan.

The consultation gives an overview of the increasing need for Council services.

Cabinet Member for Legal and Finance, Councillor Carol Gahan, said:

“Local public services are under significant and immediate financial pressure. There are no easy solutions. Looking after children and adults who need to use care services and ensuring all children have the best start in life, is an investment in the borough’s future, as well as a moral and legal duty, and takes up around two thirds of the Council’s expenditure budget. Not only do we want to undertake these duties, but moreover, we are legally required to do so. Many more children with complex needs are requiring high-cost placements. There are currently 13 placements each costing over £500,000 a year, which accounts for 34% of the overall spend supporting children in care.

“The Council spends £977 million each year on services which benefit local people every day. For example, we undertake refuse, recycling, food and garden waste collection. We clean and maintain roads and public open spaces. We are proud that our museums, libraries, leisure centres and swimming pools have thrived during these difficult times, which has sadly, not been the case for many other local authority areas. The bulk of our budget funds services that many people may not be aware of, if they, their family or friends are not directly impacted. These are vital to many people in our communities who need extra help and support. Please have a go at balancing the budget for yourself and take part in the survey. Local people’s feedback on our approach and latest thinking is very important.”

There are several ways you can get involved and have your say.

• Visit our Join the Budget Consultation page to complete a survey and have a go at balancing the budget by taking part in the budget simulator. Join the budget conversation | Participate Now

• You can write to: Join the Budget Conversation, Insight and Intelligence, Cheshire West and Chester Council, The Portal, Wellington Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BA
  Email: councilbudget@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk to share your views
  Telephone 0300 123 8123, to speak to the Council’s Contact Centre, quoting ‘Join the Budget Conversation’.

• Paper copies of the consultation will be available in all public libraries and on request using the contact details above. Alternative formats are also available on request using the contact details above.

This consultation will close on Sunday, 1 December. The results will be published on the Council’s website in January 2025, so that people who took part can see how their views have influenced decisions.

Specific budget proposals will be voted on at a full Council meeting, scheduled for 20 February 2025.

If you’re still looking for something fun to do with the family this half term, there’s lots going on across Cheshire West and Chester.

To make it easier to access what you’re looking for there’s a page on the Council’s website packed full of activities, events and exhibitions for children and young people of all ages. From craft activities through to sports camps and a whole host of spooky events, including a Haunted House Workshop and Frankenstein’s Museum, there’s something to keep everyone entertained.

Most of the events listed are free or low-cost, too.

We hope you have a great half term.

School holiday activities

Following the government’s announcement to extend the Household Support Fund for the period 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025, the Council has consulted with local organisations about how best to help people in Cheshire West and Chester.

The Council’s plan, which has now been approved, sets out how the money will be spent, as detailed below.

• Pensioners on a low income who are claiming Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction but are not receiving Pension Credit and therefore no longer qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment support, will receive £200.
• Families with children who get free school meals will receive food vouchers worth £17.50 per week for each of the four weeks of school holidays.
• Payments of £50 will be made to Carers who provide 35 hours care per week and whose details are held within our Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction records.
• Payments of £100 will be made to Care Leavers under the age of 25 and still resident in our area.
• Financial support will be available to residents via local charitable organisations.
• Low income households can apply for help with energy and food costs.
  
  

Whilst the Council’s plan has been approved, the application processes are still being developed and therefore are currently unavailable. Our website will be updated once applications are available.
Household support fund | Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Pension Credit
If you’re of pension age on a low income of less than £218.15 per week for a single person, or £332.95 as a couple, you may be eligible to claim additional support through Pension Credit. This will provide you with an additional weekly income as well as access to additional benefits such as a free tv licence, help with NHS costs, cold weather payments and the Winter Fuel Payment worth up to £300.

If you feel you may qualify, please make further enquiries regarding this valuable support you could receive. The Pension Service have a helpline
T: 0800 99 1234 and can provide further advice to you.

Warm Home Discount scheme
Applications to the Warm Home Discount scheme for permanent residents living in a park home who pay for their electricity directly to the park site owner, is now open. Funding is limited and applications will be considered on a first come, first served basis.

For more information, visit:
Park Homes | Warm Home Discount Scheme | Charis (charisgrants.com)

Additional advice and support
If you’re currently struggling, please visit the Council’s website where there is lots of information and support available to help you.

Cost of living | Cheshire West and Chester Council -

Other benefits and grants

HELP scheme

It’s important to know that you can apply if you are working, or unemployed.

You can apply for council tax support if you:

• live at the property
• pay council tax
• have a low income, or are entitled to a benefit paid by the Department for Work and Pensions or the Pension Service
• have capital of less than £6000, if you are working age; or £16,000 for working age protected group applicants and pension age.
• if you are of Pension Credit age.

Further details on the maximum amount we can pay or how we calculate what you’re entitled to, can be found on our website.

How Council Tax is worked out

Have your say on proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme

The consultation relates to the scheme for working age claimants which is set by the Council. Pension age claimants are not affected by the proposed changes as that scheme continues to be set by central government.

To find out more and to take part, visit: Council Tax Reduction Scheme Consultation | Cheshire West and Chester Council

The closing date for responses to the consultation is Thursday, 31 October.

As we head towards the cooler autumn months, take the time to see if you are eligible to apply for one of our energy efficiency schemes.

Improving the energy efficiency of your home not only helps to reduce energy bills but also has the added benefit of helping to improve your health and wellbeing. There are a number of schemes available, including the Home Upgrade Grant and The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Scheme.

Home Upgrade Grant
This scheme is available to eligible residents living in a property that is not heated by mains gas and has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of Band D, E, F or G.

If you qualify for a Home Upgrade Grant then improvements that can be made to your home include, wall and loft insulation, heating upgrades, solar panels for electricity generation and much more.

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Scheme
This is a national Government scheme aimed at improving the energy efficiency of eligible homes to help reduce fuel poverty levels and lower carbon emissions.

If you live you live in a property with an EPC rating of Band D, E, F or G and you meet certain eligibility criteria you may be able to benefit from a range of energy efficiency upgrades.

To find out more about these and other schemes or to apply, visit: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/homeenergyhelp .

A new, Alexa skill has been developed by the Council meaning that residents can get quick and easy access to information and updates about services, using simple voice commands.

This additional Alexa feature provides real-time information, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by responding to a series of questions or commands - such as:

• When is my next bin collection?
• What can I put in my recycling bin?
• Where’s my nearest library?
• When does the current school term start?
• I want to report a missed garden bin collection,
• and much more.

Councillor Nathan Pardoe, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Regeneration and Digital Transformation, said:

“Residents and businesses have to be able to access the information they need at the time that they need it, it’s why the Council is committed to developing new ways for people to access information about the things the Council does.

“The Alexa skill can be installed free of charge, and is accessible to anybody with an Alexa device or the free Alexa app. It’s easy to set up, inclusive for people with mobility or visual impairments and it also demonstrates the Council’s commitment to innovation and good customer service. As well as the new Alexa skill, the Council will continue to offer the more familiar ways to ask questions - including online telephone and in-person.”

The Council’s Alexa skill can be accessed from any mobile device, directly from Amazon.

Cheshire West and Chester - Alexa Skills

Alternatively, via the Alexa app from any smart device, by searching Cheshire West and Chester in the skills and games option and clicking the Launch button. The skill will ask for a location and name permissions to enable it to provide an all-round experience.

A full list of phrases that Alexa will respond to can be found on the Council’s website.

Alexa

Other ways to access Council services

The Council has launched a campaign to help people across the borough prepare for later life and access any support they might need.

There is an ageing population in west Cheshire, with a 24 per cent increase in people aged 65 and above according to the latest Census data, meaning more people are needing to access Adult Social Care services provided by the Council and organisations it commissions.

Depending on individual circumstances and finances, people might need to pay for all or some of the care they receive in the community.

The Council has created an easy to use, online financial assessment calculator, which will tell you how much you might be asked to contribute towards any care depending on your financial circumstances. Visit: cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/carecostcalculator.

For more information about the support available from the Council and a range of other partners, visit: cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/managingyourmoney.

Finance officers from the Council will also be attending the regular Let’s Talk sessions across west Cheshire, providing an opportunity for you to have an informal chat with them about care services and the help available to pay for them.

More about the Let’s Talk sessions

People across west Cheshire are being asked to share their thoughts on how the Council can continue to tackle the impacts of climate change.

The Council’s Climate Emergency Response Plan was launched in 2021 and now needs to be renewed for the 2025-2030 period. An early-stage engagement activity will seek the views of residents, and other partners across the borough, and the results will enable priorities and actions to be co-produced with communities. It will be followed by a formal consultation in the autumn on a draft plan.

You can help to shape how this plan will look going forward by sharing your views on a variety of topics, such as energy, transport and land use, amongst others. The engagement activity runs until Sunday, 1 September and is an important opportunity for residents to support and shape the development of the climate change strategy and how we can work together to help the borough and country reach net zero in a way that will benefit our communities for generations to come.

Provide your views to shape the new Climate Emergency Response Plan

The Cheshire West summer 2024 HAF provision will shortly be getting underway across the borough for children and young people who are in receipt of benefits-related free school meals (FSM).

The Council, alongside Edsential and a range of community partners, is running a wide range of fantastic activities that will run throughout the school summer holiday.

The HAF Programme is funded by Department for Education to support local organisations to provide fun activities for children and young people during the holidays, while also helping them to access healthy food.

This year, all provision for the HAF Programme can be found on the new dedicated west Cheshire area on the Edsential website Cheshire West & Chester – Edsential Holiday Activity Fund

Criteria/eligibility for the programme

This holiday provision is for school aged children from reception to year 11 (inclusive) who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals. Benefits-related free school meals (FSM) are available to pupils if their parents are in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits, and have a claim verified by their school or local authority.

Further information on eligibility for Free School Meals. Free school meals | Cheshire West and Chester Council

The government’s Household Support Fund is there to support households in the most need, especially with energy costs, food, water bills and other related essential items.

The current round of funding is open until 30 September 2024 and is available to a broad range of low-income households across the borough, including families with children of all ages, pensioners, unpaid carers, care leavers and disabled people.

If you fall into one of these categories and haven’t already received support through the Household Support Fund since April 2024, we are now accepting further applications for remaining funding.

To find out if you’re eligible to apply for a one off payment of £50, visit:
http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/household-support-fund

For families of children in receipt of free school meals the usual £15 food voucher, per week, per pupil, will be issued by the school for the 6-week summer break period.

There is currently no confirmation from government that the Household Support Fund will be continuing beyond 30 September 2024.

Additional support and advice is available for anyone who is struggling to pay their bills, requires debt advice or who’s health has been affected by the rising cost of living.
http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/cost-of-living