Council is ‘overwhelmed’ by its challenges

CHESHIRE East Council has been slow to respond to some of the problems it faces and at times appears overwhelmed by the challenge, an independent panel says.

- BY BELINDA RYAN

The independent assurance panel was set up to provide external advice, challenge, and expertise to the cash-strapped council over improvement and transformation.

The panel said it recognised the commitment of Cheshire East to improvement, that it was good a significant proportion of its permanent senior leadership team was now in place, and commended its adult social care services for the good rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

But its first progress update report on the council was also full of criticism.