Cheshire East cannot put off making tough decisions otherwise the forecast £3.1 million overspend this year could end up closer to the pessimistic prediction of £18.7 million, councillors said.

Councillor Dawn Clark, chair of the finance sub-committee, told Wednesday's (September 10) meeting: "The requirement to continue to identify further actions to bring the council back to a position where we are living within our means, remains."

And she said it is important these actions are closely monitored.

The committee was discussing the first financial review of 2025/26, where the figures are based on the council's income, expenditure and known commitments as at the end of June 2025.

The report stated while the situation could improve, it could get substantially worse.

"The value of additional mitigation plans not yet reflected as delivered at FR1 (financial review one) are estimated at £2.8 million, giving a potential improved overall forecast of £0.3 million overspend," said the report.

"However, should the current mitigations included in the FR1 forecast not materialise, alongside further risks identified, then the forecast overspend position could increase to £18.7 million adverse."

Councillor Clark said the predicted £3.1 million overspend was after the application of the planned use of £25.3 million conditional exceptional financial support.

"We cannot put off difficult decisions now," she said.

"The financial consequences, as spelled out in the pessimistic table, will hit us even harder down the line.

"Difficult choices have to be made and owned by full council.

She said council officers are working to produce efficient, quality services, 'but we need to support them in some areas to enable future savings'.

Conservative group leader Stewart Gardiner agreed.

"I think it's imperative that those of us who are also on service committees use our understanding of the finances to encourage our colleagues on those service committees to say we cannot do the things we want to do because we haven't got the money to pay for them," said the Knutsford councillor.

"We've got to make these difficult decisions on those services committees in order that we can balance the budget in order to assist officers in the hard work that they're doing."

He said because of the financial risk posed to the council, it must be recognised 'there are some things that we will not be able to carry on doing, and understanding that, actually it's our corporate responsibility as councillors, to act in the best interest of the council, rather than in the best interest, sometimes, of what our residents are asking us to do as councillors'.