Rotherham: Council has to save £40 million in next two years

Council chiefs are asking for the public’s ideas to help decide how to save £40million over the next two years.
Rotherham Town Hall, MoorgateRotherham Town Hall, Moorgate
Rotherham Town Hall, Moorgate

Rotherham Council has started a five-week consultation into how to make the savings, which come after the local authority already had to slash £70 million from its budget in the last three years.

Strategic director of environmental and development services Karl Battersby said: “By any stretch of the imagination this is going to be a difficult time for Rotherham. “

“This is an issue that affects everybody in Rotherham and we really want to hear opinions and suggestions.”

“There may well be some golden ideas out there that help us deliver services in a more economical way.”

“Make no mistake the next two years are going to be very hard and we want to make sure that we get this right. “

Residents are being asked should the council provide services to everyone, or target those most in need, and which services they feel can be delivered differently.

They are also asked to suggest how the council can be more efficient and how it can make money go further.

A new feature of the consultation is the opportunity to contribute to an on-line forum debate where ideas can be discussed.

Mr Battersby added: “The forum is an innovative and exciting proposal. It may be that 100 people each have per cent of the solution to a particular problem and by coming together to share ideas may be able to help us deliver value for money.”

People can come online and make suggestions and others can debate the idea or perhaps turn a good suggestion into a brilliant proposal. “

The consultation runs until the end of November.

Members of the public can take part by visiting www.rotherham.gov.uk/budget.

If you do not have access to the internet, then you can still submit your views by contacting Asim Munir by emailing [email protected] or by writing to Asim Munir (community engagement team) Second Floor, Riverside House, Rotherham,S60 1AE.