Cheshire East is asking residents to complete its 'budget prioritisation survey' as the council faces a £33 million funding gap for the next financial year.

Deputy leader Michael Gorman (Wilmslow, Ind) said a report to the corporate policy committee on the budget setting process for revealed, at that point, the funding gap was £33 million without any support from government.

He said officers have worked on managing that gap downwards and an additional corporate policy committee will be held at the end of this month to keep councillors up to date.

Speaking at Wednesday's (October 15) meeting of the full council, Cllr Gorman said: "In advance of that, we are asking residents to complete our budget prioritisation survey.

"This is a first step towards greater community engagement, and I'm very pleased to report we've had more than 900 responses in the first week alone."

He said everyone knows the council needs to make changes to balance the books, 'and when we make those changes, we want to know that we have listened to residents and businesses'.

He added: "We know that residents care deeply about the services we provide, from roads and bins to parks and libraries but when demand for the council's statutory care services rises, our people come first.

"Our social care responsibilities are simply not optional. They are our legal duty and a lifeline for many."

He said 70p in every £1 of council tax spent goes towards the 6,500 adults and more than 660 children who are in social care.

The deputy leader said the council will be holding community assemblies in November and December in Macclesfield and Crewe to allow residents in person to have their say, ask questions and learn about the council's priorities, its financial position and budget setting ahead of the budget meeting next February.

"I do really, sincerely hope that community assemblies will become a valued part of the Cheshire East consultation process in future years, underlining our commitment to making budgetary choices both transparent and responsibly," he said.