Cheshire East Council staff halved in a decade, figures show

The number of staff employed directly by Cheshire East Council has almost halved in the decade since the authority was launched, writes Stephen Topping.

Figures from the council show on April 30 2009, CEC had a headcount of 6,522 employees – excluding school staff and casual workers.

But by March 31 this year, that number stood at 3,557 – a 46% fall.

Council chiefs say the reduction follows ongoing restructures – while more than 1,200 employees have been transferred from CEC to its arms-length companies, such as Ansa.

A CEC spokesman said: “CEC seeks to deliver best value and maintain a high standard of service to residents, while ensuring that staffing levels are appropriate to deliver vital services.

“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 CEC or neighbouring Cheshire West and Chester Council.

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

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