Have your say on council's budget

WARRINGTON Borough Council has launched its formal budget consultation and is now inviting views and comments from residents, local businesses, service users and employees.
Building on ideas put forward through its “Make Every Penny Count” campaign, the council is committed to finding the best ways possible to make around £50m of savings over the next four years.
Feedback on the proposals is welcome until Friday 21 January 2011 and the results will help the council’s executive board refine the final budget proposals which are due to be presented to full council next March.
In a foreword to the consultation document, Coun Paul Campbell, (pictured) executive member for finance says: “Every aspect of the services that the council currently provides is going to be affected by the need to reduce spending. We know that many of the things we will have to consider will not be popular.
“There will be very few easy choices so your views are vital to making sure we strike the right balance between setting an affordable and sustainable budget and maintaining the services that you value most.”
The document sets out a range of proposals across all service areas and information on the budget consultation will be made as widely available as possible.
Feedback can be submitted online via www.warrington.gov.uk and printed documents will also be available in local libraries and council buildings soon for those who do not have easy or regular access to a computer. Once completed these can then be handed in to staff or returned via the freepost address.
Coun Campbell added: “This is a real opportunity for people to tell us where they think we should make savings, as well as highlighting those important areas where they want to see the council continuing to invest to provide high quality services. I hope as many people as possible will take a few minutes to let us know what they think.”