Budget consultation: Help us to decide

St Edmundsbury Borough Council has launched a budget consultation as it prepares to save a further £1.5m in 2015/16.

People are being asked for their views on a range of options that will help inform councillors when they make their budget decisions later in the year.

Questionnaires will now be dropping on to the doormats of 3,000 residents across St Edmundsbury while all St Edmundsbury residents can take part in the consultation online at: www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/budgetsurvey2014

The consultation asks some specific questions, with indications of the potential money saved, or new income generated. These include questions relating to the use of volunteers in our parks and heritage services, as well as possibilities for changes at our bus station.

John Griffiths, leader of St Edmundsbury Borough Council said:

“We are all in this together. We do not wish to see services disappear or compromise on quality– but the harsh reality is that they may have to be different in the future.

“We have already made savings of £3.5million per year by joining up our services with Forest Heath but need to reduce our budget for 2015/16 by a further £1.5m – that means difficult decisions will have to be made and we are keen to ensure both that they are considered carefully and that there are no nasty surprises.

“We would welcome people’s suggestions on how we can deliver quality services while either reducing our costs or increasing our income.

“I should stress that no decisions have yet been made – these are just some ideas for possible consideration.

“That is why we are asking people to take the time to take part in this budget consultation, to help us to continue to keep our Council Tax down and to maintain that enviable quality of life we enjoy here in St Edmundsbury.”

The consultation closing date is 22 August and councillors will take the consultation responses into account during the autumn budget-setting process, with the final budget set in February 2015.

If people do not have internet access at home they can complete the online consultation at the Council’s offices in West Suffolk House, Bury St Edmunds or Haverhill House, Haverhill.