Notts: Over 4,100 have say on council’s budget challenge

Only in 2011/12, when 10,000 people took part, has the response rate to a County Council budget consultation been higher.

The council is being forced to cut £154million out of its budget over the next three years because of devestating cuts in Government funding for local services.

The cuts represent a quarter of the total amount of money the council needs to maintain services at existing levels

In total, 51 detailed budget proposals have been put forward for public comment, which would reduce the council’s running costs by £83million through cutting services across all departments, 750 job losses, improving efficiency, sharing services with other councils and greater use of technology.

Reaction to the proposals has been mixed. Of the responses to the consultation received so far, most support has been for halving the councillors’ divisional fund to support local causes, increasing the charge of Blue Badge applications and renewals and renegotiating the waste management contract.

Most people are against chnaging services which provide employment places for people with learning disabilities.

Coun Alan Rhodes, leader of Notts County Council, said: “It’s important that people tell us how they will be affected through the consultation and let us know which of the budget proposals they support and which they are against.”