LETS TALK!
Hell yeah, lets talk, lets have a power point presentation, then talk. I hereby call upon Dudley Council, Ms. James and the Black Country to speed up the 'open' let's talk principle that STOKE-ON-TRENT council are trying.
In principle this seems like a 'democratic' process, where the 'people' actually get to vote on HOW their money and resources should be divided, shared, secured, advertised, etc.
So...what is the catch?
--Steve.
Residents Invited To Have Their Say On How To Save Approximately £30m
12 Jul 2010
Posted by Tony Walley
Residents are to be asked what they would like Stoke-on-Trent City Council to prioritise its spending on for the next financial year, on the back of stiff government cuts.
The authority, which has a budget of £209 million, needs to save approximately £30 million next year – a 14 per cent reduction.
A six-week ‘Let’s Talk’ public consultation will begin on Monday, and residents’ responses will help with tough decisions on where government cuts need to be made.
The consultation, which will run between 12 July – 20 August, will include:
* Face-to-face surveys carried out in local centres, shopping centres, markets, libraries, museums and bus stations
* An on-line survey via stoke.gov.uk/letstalk
* Billboard advertising to inform people about the consultation
* A dedicated phone line – 01782 235104 – where people can give their views in person
The council is responsible for hundreds of services in the city, from bin collections to schools. Some of the services are statutory, which means the council has to carry them out by law – these include looking after children in care and vulnerable adults, to highway maintenance and planning regulations. The authority also provides many discretionary services which the council believes it is right to offer residents – these include libraries, swimming pools, museums and allotments.
The survey questions ask people to say what is important to them from a list that includes:
* Encouraging more jobs and businesses
* Reducing anti-social behaviour and fear of crime
* Looking after the environment and tackling climate change
* Improving health and well-being
* Repairing and maintaining roads and pavements
* Keeping streets clean
* Improving educational achievement
* Supporting and protecting vulnerable adults and children
* Increasing recycling
* Providing sport and leisure facilities
* Providing decent and affordable housing
The results of the consultation will be reported to the council’s cabinet and the overview and scrutiny committees that help to put the budget together.
Councillor Kieran Clarke, cabinet member for finance, performance and governance, said:
Quote:
“We face very tough economic times, and the amount of money the government is asking us to save means we have to make very difficult decisions on where we prioritise our spending.
“Residents views are always important to us, but are even more so given the cuts that need to be made. Saving £30 million is a very hard task and will simply mean that we will not be able to deliver some of the services that we have been doing.
“The government’s emergency budget made it clear that we will not be allowed to raise council tax next year to help pay for services, so it is crucial to know what services are important to residents to help identify where the savings must be made.
“I urge as many residents as possible to respond to the consultation. By getting a good range of views from across the city, we will be able to take their views into account when setting the budget.”
http://pitsnpots.co.uk/news/2010/07/residents-invited-have-their-say-how-save-approximately-30m
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