ELDCwantsviews onbudget

The council admits tough decisions will have to be made with many frontline services under threat.

It is inviting residents to have their say on the draft budget by visiting its website, attending a public meeting, or visiting one of its Customer Service Centres.

The consultation is open until 5pm on January 29, 2016.

The first public forum was held at Stanhope Hall in Horncastle yesterday (Tuesday).

However, another sessions will be held at the Town Hall in Skegness tonight (Wednesday) at 6.15 and Louth Town Hall tomorrow (Thursday), again at 6.15pm.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016 – Stanhope Hall, Horncastle, at 1.15pm.

o Wednesday, January 20, 2016 – Town Hall, Skegness, at 6.15pm.

o Thursday, January 21, 2016 – Town Hall, Louth, at 6.15pm.

The Council faces a budget shortfall of £1,580,000 in 2016/17 and needs to reduce its operating costs by an anticipated £6,000,000 over the next four years as Government funding to support local services continues to reduce. Many Councils across the country are in a similar position in needing to reduce budgets for this reason.

The Council’s net revenue budget is currently £18,242,000 down from £22,683,000 in 2010/11. The net revenue budget is the amount left once you subtract the Council’s direct income from total expenditure and is currently funded from Council Tax, Business Rates and Government Grant.

In order to address the budget shortfall, the Council has to reduce expenditure or increase income.

Residents and businesses are being asked to have their say on the following:

· The draft Transformation Programme - a list of some of the projects that could help to achieve the budget reductions required. Residents are being asked for their views on the projects listed in the draft Transformation Programme and to put forward any ideas they have that could help achieve the budget reductions required.

· The Draft Budget, which proposes a Council Tax increase of 4.06% - 9.5p a week for those living in a Band D property.

· The Medium Term Financial Plan

Portfolio Holder for Finance at the Council, Councillor Nick Guyatt, said: “The challenges remain great for the Council with significant and ongoing reductions in funding from Central Government to support local services. This Council must reduce its operating costs by around £6,000,000 over next four years – a huge amount from a relatively small budget.

“It’s really important that both residents and businesses take this opportunity to have their say on how public money is spent and also raised in East Lindsey. The views of the community will inform the Council’s budget decisions over the coming weeks. The views of the community are important to us.”

You can have your say the following ways:

· at www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/consultation

· by completing a consultation form available at the Council’s Customer Service Centres, including the Council’s Manby Offices.

· by attending one of the following public meetings:

o Tuesday, January 19, 2016 – Stanhope Hall, Horncastle, at 1.15pm.

o Wednesday, January 20, 2016 – Town Hall, Skegness, at 6.15pm.

o Thursday, January 21, 2016 – Town Hall, Louth, at 6.15pm.