Children and adult services are so underfunded the council will eventually have to abandon roadworks and waste collection to pay for them - unless the government steps in with cash.

That was the stark warning from the chair of Cheshire East Council's children and families committee as she backed a call from Crewe councillor Laura Smith (Labour), for wealthy tax avoiders to pay their fair share.

Cllr Smith's question was put to children and families chair Kathryn Flavell (Labour), by Cllr Suzanne Brookfield on behalf of Cllr Smith at Wednesday's (October 19) full meeting of the council.

Chair of the Children and Families Committee, Cllr Kathryn Flavell (Cheshire East Council).

Cllr Brookfield (Crewe East, Labour) said: "Our failure to support children as early as possible will just lead to greater problems in the future.

"Does the chair of children and families committee agree with me that enough is enough and it is about time every single members of this council called on the richest in society to pay the tax they can well afford and have long avoided - to stop expecting everyone else to foot the bill?"

Cllr Flavell replied: "The reduction, year on year, of funding to the council has caused tremendous pressures within children services and adults.

"Yet these services, many of them are statutory so we have no choice but to supply these services."

Crewe East Loabour councillor, Cllr Suzanne Brookfield (Cheshire East Council).

She said 70 per cent of council tax in Cheshire East goes on children's services and adult social care and these should have a much better public funding base.

"Many councils are facing financial difficulties because of the lack of funding in high needs. We know this is an ongoing issue that is a national problem," said Cllr Flavell.

"Until we get some real investment into children's services then it will affect the safety and the wellbeing of our children because the council.

"Eventually, will not be doing any road works and we will not be doing any waste collection, because every single penny we have will have to go on to our statutory services and this just cannot go on.

Cheshire East Council warns it will have to abandon roadworks and waste collection to pay for children and adult services- unless the government steps in with cash (Ryan Parker).

"We need to call for better funding for children's services from the government."

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