Last chance to have your say on council spending
Saturday, 16th August 2014.
Time is running out for residents to have their say on how St Edmundsbury Borough Council makes £1.5m of savings in 2015/16.
People have until the end of Friday, August 22, to make their own suggestions, and to comment on a range of ideas put forward by the council.
A random 3,000 residents across St Edmundsbury received a postal questionnaire. Those that have not completed and returned the survey are invited to do so within the next few days.
Anybody that has not received a questionnaire, can take part in the consultation online at: www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/budgetsurvey2014
Leader of St Edmundsbury, Cllr John Griffiths, said: “We have already made savings of £3.5million per year by joining up our services with Forest Heath.
“However, there will be less money available to St Edmundsbury next year and we still need to reduce our budget for 2015/16 by a further £1.5m.
“None of us wish to see valued services disappear, or compromise on their quality, but we have to look at new and even better ways of delivering them while raising money or cutting costs further, or both.
“The consultation does ask some specific questions but no decisions have been, or will be, taken until our residents have been given the opportunity to comment on them and/or come up with their own suggestions.
"We are keen to ensure that any potential savings are considered carefully and that there are no nasty surprises.
“So please, take the time to take part in this budget consultation, and help us to continue to keep our council tax down and to maintain the enviable services and quality of life we enjoy here in St Edmundsbury.”
The consultation responses will be taken into account during the autumn budget-setting process, with the final budget set in February 2015.
If people do not have internet access at home they can complete the online consultation at the council’s offices in West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds or Haverhill House, Haverhill.
People have until the end of Friday, August 22, to make their own suggestions, and to comment on a range of ideas put forward by the council.
A random 3,000 residents across St Edmundsbury received a postal questionnaire. Those that have not completed and returned the survey are invited to do so within the next few days.
Anybody that has not received a questionnaire, can take part in the consultation online at: www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/budgetsurvey2014
Leader of St Edmundsbury, Cllr John Griffiths, said: “We have already made savings of £3.5million per year by joining up our services with Forest Heath.
“However, there will be less money available to St Edmundsbury next year and we still need to reduce our budget for 2015/16 by a further £1.5m.
“None of us wish to see valued services disappear, or compromise on their quality, but we have to look at new and even better ways of delivering them while raising money or cutting costs further, or both.
“The consultation does ask some specific questions but no decisions have been, or will be, taken until our residents have been given the opportunity to comment on them and/or come up with their own suggestions.
"We are keen to ensure that any potential savings are considered carefully and that there are no nasty surprises.
“So please, take the time to take part in this budget consultation, and help us to continue to keep our council tax down and to maintain the enviable services and quality of life we enjoy here in St Edmundsbury.”
The consultation responses will be taken into account during the autumn budget-setting process, with the final budget set in February 2015.
If people do not have internet access at home they can complete the online consultation at the council’s offices in West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds or Haverhill House, Haverhill.
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