Two weeks left to give views on Telford & Wrekin Council budget proposals

The Council, which faces a budget gap of £10 million next year following further cuts in Government funding, says its budget plans focus on encouraging jobs and growth and the services that should be priorities - rather than just where it must cut services.

The Council, which has the third lowest council tax in the Midlands, proposes to increase council tax to support these plans from April 2013 by the equivalent of 32 pence a week for the average borough Band B home, an increase of 1.9 per cent, echoing views already expressed by borough residents when the majority of those who responded to a consultation last year supported a council tax increase to help protect services.

Telford & Wrekin says it is missing out on millions of pounds of Government funding which should come to this area and is calling for a meeting with Local Government minister Brandon Lewis to press for a fairer deal for the borough.

The Council is consulting on its proposals until February 10 and people can give their views online at www.telford.gov.uk/budget where and online survey is available along with more details on the Council’s budget proposals.

Cllr Bill McClements, cabinet member for Resources and Service Delivery, said: “Our budget plans focus clearly on what we want to do to create the jobs and growth that the borough so badly needs.

“But we want to hear people’s views as to what they think about our approach and priorities.

“Since we launched the proposals we’ve had over 1,200 responses from the public already and I hope many more people will give us their views before the consultation closes on February 10 and these can then be considered before the budget is set by the Council in early March.”