EVENT: Bury Council cuts meeting

Residents are invited to have their say on the budget options at a public meeting at the Elizabethan Suite, Bury, on Tuesday, February 1, starting at 7pm. Comments have already been arriving at the town hall after the council issued the first round of proposed budget savings for the 2011-12 financial year.

Its four directorates — chief executive’s, adult care services, children’s services, and environment and development services — have drawn up initial savings totalling £5.3million. A further £3.8 million has been found by adjusting budget assumptions, by making use of funds that were previously set aside for investment into priority services and by general savings. A second list of budget options is expected to be issued shortly. The council is asking residents for their views before the budget is formally set by a special meeting of the full council on February 23.

The February 1 meeting will comprise a presentation on the budget position and current proposals followed by an opportunity for people to ask questions and make comments. There will also be an online budget simulator to demonstrate the various options, as well as questionnaires to fill in.

Councillor Iain Gartside, cabinet member for resource, said: “The council is very keen to hear what people say about our draft proposals for balancing the books and I hope that residents will come along to the meeting on February 1.”

The budget options can be viewed here

This article was reproduced from the Bury Times website