Cheshire East Council's workforce has more than halved over the past 14 years.

According to the Office of National Statistics, the number of people employed by local authorities in the North West has plunged from 263,187 to 185,944 - almost 30 per cent per cent of the total headcount.

Here in Cheshire East, that figure rises to 61%, with 11,112 council employees in 2012 having now dropped to 5,906 in 2026.

These figures emerge as GMB Union delegates discuss cuts to local authority budgets at the TUC annual congress in Brighton.

Will Dalton, GMB national officer, said: "Local government workers are absolutely essential for a healthy, thriving country.

"They help our children learn, clear away our rubbish, look after our loved one and keep our green spaces clean.

"To lose almost 30 per cent of them has torn the heart out of our communities and shows the damage austerity did to the country.

"Meanwhile, anxiety is already high amongst council staff following the Government's bungled reorganisation initiative.

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"If the Prime Minister wants to make good on his promise to give power and prosperity to every post code, well-funded councils with well paid workers must come first."

Responding to the statistics shared by GMB Union, councillor Dawn Clark, cabinet member for finance, legal and enforcement, said that workforce comparisons over a 14-year period 'do not always reflect the full picture.

She added: "Since 2012, the way councils, businesses and public services operate has changed significantly, with advances in technology, the growth of digital services, changing customer expectations and new ways of working accelerated by the pandemic.

"Like local authorities across the country, Cheshire East Council has adapted to these changes while managing significant financial pressures and rising demand for services, particularly in adult social care and children's services.

"Our focus remains on delivering the best possible outcomes for residents and communities. This means continually reviewing how services are delivered, ensuring value for money for taxpayers and making sure we have the right skills, capacity and resources in place to meet local needs now and in the future."