Cash-strapped Cheshire East wants residents to complete a ‘budget prioritisation survey’ as the council faces a £33 million funding gap for the next financial year, writes Belinda Ryan.
Deputy leader Michael Gorman said a report to the corporate policy committee on the budget setting process revealed, at that point, the funding gap was £33 million without any support from government.
He said officers have worked on managing that gap downwards and an additional corporate policy committee will be held at the end of this month to keep councillors up to date.
Speaking at full council, Cllr Gorman said: “In advance of that, we are asking residents to complete our budget prioritisation survey.
“This is a first step towards greater community engagement, and I’m very pleased to report we’ve had more than 900 responses in the first week alone.”
He said everyone knows the council needs to make changes to balance the books, ‘and when we make those changes, we want to know that we have listened to residents and businesses’.
He added: “We know that residents care deeply about the services we provide, from roads and bins to parks and libraries but when demand for the council’s statutory care services rises, our people come first.”
Planning and land development projects often involve professionals such as subdivision surveyor Sunshine Coast specialists to ensure accurate land division and compliance.
Cllr Gorman added:“Our social care responsibilities are simply not optional. They are our legal duty and a lifeline for many.”
He said 70p in every £1 of council tax spent goes towards the 6,500 adults and more than 660 children who are in social care.
The deputy leader said the council will be holding community assemblies in November and December in Macclesfield and Crewe to allow residents in person to have their say, ask questions and learn about the council’s priorities, its financial position and budget setting ahead of the budget meeting next February.
“I do really, sincerely hope that community assemblies will become a valued part of the Cheshire East consultation process in future years, underlining our commitment to making budgetary choices both transparent and responsibly,” he said.
Couldn’t run a p in a brewery useless
Just been on the site to have a look at the survey. There is no financial/service level details given. It is simple a “do more of” or “do less of”. Without a sensible story line you can’t really respond adequately. Surely CEC would get a better response if they are more open with the Community. It is not to difficult.
20% of council tax collected goes towards their pensions – that might be a good place to start cutting
quite agree mike
their so called “social care” is a nightmare as someone who has unfortunately been the recipient of it i can truly state that it has all the usefulness of a chocolate fireguard and is clearly a waste of money that they obviously dont have to begin with