Plea for public input as council faces its ‘most difficult budget’

SENIOR councillors who face making savings of more than £20m from their budget next year yesterday issued a plea to council tax payers to help them face “the most difficult budget they have ever faced”.

Like every other local authority in the region, Rotherham Council is facing another round of swingeing Government cuts and officers have been ordered to prune £20.4m from their spending plans.

Yesterday, the council’s leader Roger Stone said he wanted local people to indicate how they believe the council should save and spend money, by having their say about what their priority issues are.

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A budget survey has now been launched which asks every individual to point out what they feel are the most important council services and where the money could be saved.

Coun Stone said last year’s budget was guided by five key priorities and added: “Those priorities have not changed, They guide the way we spend and ensure we protect our most vulnerable residents.

“But the number of people we need to help is increasing and the amount of money we have to spend is falling.

“We have already made considerable changes within the council by reducing staffing costs and making us far more efficient in the way we deliver our front-line services.

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“But if we are to save another £20.4m we will need to take more hard decisions. Change is never easy and that is why we need to be clear about the most important things we are delivering for the public.

“That is why we are holding open discussions with not only the public, but also the staff and trade unions, about the options available to us.

“We need as many views as possible on what is probably the most difficult budget year we have faced.”

Last year, Rotherham Council said it had a total budget of £250 million and had to reduce its spending by £30 million. This year, from a budget of £220 million it must reduce its spending by a further £20.4 million - equating to about £80 for every resident living within the borough.

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Deputy council leader Jahangir Akhtar, urged the public to take part. He said: “We would like taxpayers to tell us what they think are the priority issues where they believe most council money should go.

“Those views will help us to make difficult, but informed decisions on where we should spend our money.

“This is a huge challenge for us all because we have a considerably reduced amount of money to spend on services coupled with big increases in demand for services for vulnerable residents because of the economic downturn.”

Coun Akhtar said the authority will also be talking to various groups including older people and carers, faith communities, young people, people from ethnic communities and the voluntary and community sector, to get opinions.

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Councillors hope most people will fill in budget survey on the internet, where it can be found at www.rotherham.gov.uk/moneymatters

The public can also view webcasts featuring the chief executive of the council Martin Kimber, Coun Akhtar and Coun. Mahroof Hussain, the council’s cabinet member for community development, equality and young people.

All talk about the importance of the budget and why and how changes must be adopted so the delivery of services to the public can continue.

The council said responses from the online survey, focus groups and the general public, will be used to influence the setting of the council’s budget for 2012/13.

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The public have until the end of December to make their views known by visiting the website or by writing to the Chief Executive, Rotherham Borough Council, Doncaster Gate Hospital, Doncaster Gate, S65 1DJ.