Three thousand voice opinion on county funding proposals

MORE than 3,000 people have had their say on Leicestershire County Council’s future plans and priorities – and there’s plenty of time to join the debate.

Residents, businesses, organisations and others can get involved by completing a short, online questionnaire available at: www.leicestershire. gov.uk/priorities.

An interactive tool is also online enabling people to try balancing the council’s budget.

Despite saving £200m since 2010, rising demand for services pushing up costs and uncertainty over Government funding mean the council still faces a significant financial challenge.

The council needs to save another £75m over the next four years and is running a three-month consultation asking residents, businesses and partner organisations for their views on the significant financial challenge.

Byron Rhodes, deputy council leader, said: “Local government still faces severe financial challenges. In Leicestershire, we’ve been ahead of the game and savings are identified to ensure a balanced budget until 2020. But soaring demand for services, plus uncertainty over national funding, means we need to look at all options to help protect services.

“That’s why we are asking you to have your say. Setting our future priorities is a big decision and we’ve created an interactive tool to help people understand the challenges and inform their feedback. A questionnaire has been sent to homes across the county and we’ll be at key events over the summer to talk to people and encourage them to get involved.

“Your views are important and will help us plan and push for change – and I’d urge as many people as possible to get involved.”

The 12-week exercise runs September 8 and includes:

■ A questionnaire - sent to households in a special edition of residents’ newsletter Leicestershire Matters in June

■ An online, interactive tool enabling peopale to explore the council’s budget in more detail until ■ Residents focus groups

■ Workshops with parish councils, NHS bodies, the police, businesses and other stakeholders

■ Workshops with council staff and managers

■ Stands at events across the county. Find the interactive tool, the questionnaire, event information and more at www.leicestershire.gov.uk/ priorities . For more information - or if you would like to receive a hard copy - email: priorities@leics.gov.uk or call 0116 305 0002.