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Councils to ask residents to take the role of 'chancellor'
Ref : 10/064 : Date : 23-07-2010
Adur and Worthing residents and businesses will be asked to take the role of 'chancellor' and contribute to the budget debate in the two areas.
Residents will be asked for ideas on reducing budgets and increasing income in a leaflet which will be delivered with the annual register of electors form in September. The leaflet sets out how the budget is currently allocated and gives people an opportunity to say what they think is most important to them and what is not. The public will also be asked if they would support a full merger of Adur and Worthing councils.
The two councils are faced with making cuts of nearly half a million in Adur and almost £1million in Worthing in this financial year. Further cuts of £2 million and £3.2 million, respectively, could be made by the end of 2013/14.
Following the example of the coalition government a cross party budgetary advisory group has been set up for in each council. They have been tasked with reviewing the budgets, considering the shape of local government for the future and considering more ways to work in partnership.
Leader of Adur District Council, Neil Parkin said: "We are being totally open about this. Before cuts are made we want to know what our residents think are the most important services to them. And if anyone has some suggestions how we could make money we want to hear from them."
"Everything is up for grabs and we are questioning everything we do. And we want to know if the public would support a full merger of the two councils, if this would mean substantial savings can be made."
Leader of Worthing Borough Council, Paul Yallop said: "There's no doubt that we have difficult times ahead and it is important we involve local people so that when we have to make those tough decisions we have a good idea of what is matters to them."
"I would like to reassure people that the new swimming pool in Worthing is going ahead. This is because the pool is a one off capital project which will provide income and reduce the costs of running a pool for years to come. We are not pulling the plug on this one."
Ends
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