Telford & Wrekin residents welcome at budget consultation event

The open public consultation event takes place on Tuesday 17 January 2012 from 6.00pm to 7.30pm at the Civic Offices in Telford Town Centre.

The Council’s budget proposals follow unprecedented cuts in Government grants between 2011 and 2014, while costs Telford & Wrekin Council has to meet continue to rise due to inflation at near five per cent and increased demands placed on some services.

The consultation seeks people’s views on its budget proposals and asks residents if they want to accept a government grant to freeze council tax or increase council tax next year to prevent even bigger rises or deeper service cuts the following years.

At the 17 January event people can hear about the budget proposals, give their views to cabinet members and have their say at a number of issues at interactive stands including specific savings proposals and whether to freeze or raise council tax.

Anyone wanting to come can book a place by calling 01952 382131 or email yourviewsmatter@telford.gov.uk

The Council’s budget proposals out to consultation until 31 January propose a series of cuts to services to help the Council meet the savings that it must find,. They also seek to protect as far as possible front line services through further cuts to senior management, better procurement and more efficient ways of working.

Next year the Council plans to make almost £8.6 million savings from services and saving a total of £17.6 million from services over the next three years. This is on top of a restructuring programme to reduce its staff costs by 20 per cent, saving a further £16.7 million.

A full list of the budget savings proposals together with ways that people can contribute to the consultation can be seen at www.telford.gov.uk/budget.

Residents are also being asked their views on three options for council tax.

Option 1
Accept the Government’s grant and freeze council tax next year. This one year grant is equivalent to a 2.5% rise in council tax. The Council says taking it will store up future problems, adding an extra £1.4 million to the budget shortfall in 2012/13 and forcing even bigger rises in council tax or deeper cuts to services the following year.

Option 2
Decline the one off grant and increase council tax by 41p per week (2.5%) for the average property next year to avoid additional service cuts or a higher council tax rises in 2013/14

Option 3
Decline the one off grant and increase tax by 58p per week (3.5%) next year for the average property and then either remove some of the proposed service cuts or reduce the council tax rise in 2013/14

Residents can also get involved in the consultation in a number of other ways including a budget survey at www.telford.gov.uk/budgetsurvey or by visiting www.telford.gov.uk/budget.

Cllr Bill McClements, cabinet member for Resources and Service Delivery, said: “As a Co-operative Council, listening to people’s views is absolutely vital for us and ensuring that people have their say on our proposals.

“Due to unprecedented cuts in government grant, we have some very difficult decisions to make and I urge as many people as possible to come along and give their views direct to budget decision makers

“We want people to take part and this event offers people the opportunity to do so in a simple and interactive way.

“The views we receive will then help to shape our final budget proposals after listening carefully to the views of those who contribute to our budget consultation, which despite the Christmas break, is already attracting an encouraging response.”