Council staff almost halves in decade

THE number of staff employed directly by Cheshire East Council has almost halved in the decade since the authority was launched.

Figures show on April 30, 2009, the council had 6,522 employees - excluding school staff and casual workers.

But by March 31 this year, that number stood at 3,557 - a 46 per cent fall.

A council spokesman said: “Overall, since 2009, there has been ongoing restructures and efficiencies leading to staff reductions, either through reviews following voluntary resignations, transfers, retirements or through agreed redundancy packages.

“As a large unitary authority, the staffing establishment of the council will always fluctuate.

“New ways of working adopted to manage challenging financial pressures, means that staff numbers continue to be under review.”

In April 2009, staff from the old Cheshire County Council and its former borough councils - including Macclesfield - transferred their employment to the newly formed Cheshire East Council or neighbouring Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Staff numbers were most dramatically reduced before April 30, 2015, when the council had 3,812 employees - a cut of 42 per cent from April 30, 2009.

A total of 1,244 council employees have been transferred to its armslength companies - meaning 1,721 employees have either resigned, retired, been made redundant or had their employment terminated in the past 10 years.