Have your say on budget cuts
All Hartlepool residents are being given the opportunity to have their say on Hartlepool Borough Council's future spending plans.
Councils up and down the country are facing stark choices over which services they fund in the future following the commitment by the new Coalition Government to slash public sector funding.
Prior to the change of Government, Hartlepool Borough Council was expecting having to make savings of around £4m per year for the next three years but this is now likely to be much higher.
The council has also been hit following the Coalition Government's in-year cuts which is resulting in the authority having to find around £2.1m in 2010/11.
Councillor Robbie Payne, the council's Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement, said: "All councils are expecting to be hit financially and there's no doubt we will face some of the toughest choices ever in the months and years ahead.
"But the worst choice would be to fail to put in place a credible plan to deal with this situation. To help us plan we need to understand the priorities of people across the town.
"I do urge as many people as possible to let us have their views on what they think the priorities should be in these hard times. Once we have all of the responses from the consultation exercise and the full financial picture councillors will be in a position to make these very difficult decisions."
How to take part
This is your opportunity to help plan future council services. The survey will close in September 2010. It is completely anonymous, and will take you no more than five minutes to fill in.
There are several ways for you to take part in this consultation. You can:
- have your say online using Hartlepool Borough Council's online consultation site
- request a questionnaire by telephoning 01429 523330 or by emailing yourtownyoursay@hartlepool.gov.uk
- collect a questionnaire from the Civic Centre on Victoria Road, or any leisure centre or library in the town
- email comments to yourtownyoursay@hartlepool.gov.uk
- post comments to: The Chief Executive, Hartlepool Borough Council, Civic Centre, Hartlepool, TS24 7BR
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