Residents being given last chance to help to decide Walsall Council’s spending priorities
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Residents in Walsall are being offered the chance to help "spend" over £200 million on public services.
Walsall Council has developed a special online budget calculator to give people the chance to say how the authority's annual budget should be spent.
Hundreds have already taken part in the innovative consultation exercise and Walsall Council bosses are hoping to encourage many more to have a go and have a say on spending priorities.
Initial results show that roads and maintenance and public safety are most important to residents.
By accessing a special webpage people can read more about the various services the council provides.
They can adjust spending up or down in 17 different spending areas, which mirror the range of council services and a £246m budget.
In order to give as many people as possible the opportunity to have their say, the deadline for responding has been extended to 10am on 14 November 2011, visit www.walsall.gov.uk/budget_simulator to have your say.
Responses gathered via the budget simulator between now and 14 November will be reported back to cabinet on 14 December 2011.
As well as the budget simulator, Walsall Council has held meetings and discussions to gather the views of residents, community and voluntary organisations and businesses, the findings from which will be reported to Cabinet on 9 November 2011.
Cllr Chris Towe, cabinet member for Finance and Personnel at Walsall Council, said: “Each year we ask people for their views on spending priorities which are used to guide the budget setting process. With growing demands on council services and budgets being squeezed, it’s important that our budget accurately reflects the needs and wants of local people.
“Every single response and comment submitted to the budget simulator is read and fed into the budget setting process, so do take the opportunity to respond, your views are a very important part of the process.”
Budget simulator is available to complete on the council’s website from now until 10am on 14 November 2011 visit www.walsall.gov.uk/budget_simulator
Individuals can also have their say by simply emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or text ‘walsall budget’ followed by your message to 60003
Alternatively write to;
Budget Consultation
Walsall Council
The Civic Centre
Darwall Street
Walsall
WS1 1TP
You can find out more about the council’s budget setting process by visiting www.walsall.gov.uk/budget_consultation
Feedback gathered from budget consultation will help to shape council spending priorities and service plans for the next financial year.
The final budget is due be approved in the New Year. Findings from the consultation are available on the council's website.
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