Cheshire East Council is set to freeze Council Tax for a fifth year running and take up the offer of the government's freeze grant, which is projected to be £1,816,256 for 2015-16.
Financial reports voted through by Cabinet on Wednesday, February 11th also showed there will be a small budget surplus by year end.
Councillor Peter Raynes, Cabinet member in charge of finance, said: "Our performance in the third quarter of 2014/2015 shows we are once again well in control of our budgets.
"We are forecasting a slight under-spend (£0.2m), as we achieved in the past two years, and for 2015/16 will meet our target of saving £7.7m without compromising key services. The Council has achieved permanent savings of £5m in management costs alone over the past two years.
"Our three-quarter-year review demonstrates that the overall financial health, performance, resilience and value for money at Cheshire East Council are strong, despite taking £50m out of our costs base from 2011/12 and freezing Council Tax for the fourth consecutive year. We also propose to freeze Council Tax for a fifth year.
"Savings have been consistently achieved through efficiencies, removing management costs, removing duplication and a planned programme of asset disposals – in short, working smarter with the resources we have.
"This approach has protected funding to frontline services. The Council's strong financial position reflects its enhanced governance, innovative delivery arrangement and effective stewardship of public money and reflects our focus on putting residents first."
Annual Council spending is more than £750m, with a proposed balanced net budget of £264.7m for 2015/16.
The Council has spent the last three years re-shaping, following an overhaul of its management structure, and is now a commissioning council, which has seen the launch of a raft of new arms-length alternative service delivery companies (ASDVs) and a new permanent management team.
This new way of working is designed to provide the benefits of a more commercial approach to services while ensuring that profits and accountability are maintained for the good of the people.
Leader of the Council Councillor Michael Jones said: "This shows that Cheshire East really is in great shape for the future to continue to deliver for our residents.
"Local government is going through a period of unprecedented change and financial challenge. Cheshire East's response continues to be based on innovation and creativity.
"We will be relentless in the pursuit of greater efficiency and productivity and minimising bureaucracy to enable the Council to deliver a high level of sustainable, quality services for residents.
"We are a 'residents first' Council and our approach to finance and formulating a budget underlines that commitment.
"The Council is sustaining great performance while still proposing to freeze Council Tax. This means that we are providing great value for money for the people of Cheshire East and will continue to do so."
Photo: Councillor Peter Raynes, Cabinet member in charge of finance.
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