Powys Budget Challenge –
Public Consultation
Powys County Council (PCC) is currently running an on-line public consultation exercise
regarding the choices it faces inn making £27m worth of savings over the next
three years. The consultation runs until 30 November 2015
The exercise is being conducted using an on-line budget
‘simulator’ which allows respondents to set spending levels in key areas of the
Council’s services and also see explanations of the practical impacts this will
have upon those services. The budget areas under consideration are: Highways
Transport and Recycling; Adult Social Care and Housing; Children’s Services;
Schools; Culture and Recreation; Central Support Services; and Regeneration and
Property. (A more detailed list of proposals for the services affected can be
viewed at: http://tinyurl.com/nb5h8nz)
Why is This Important?
·
These are services areas which are important to the members and
service users of a wide range of community and voluntary organisations.
·
Changes to PCC’s
services will potentially have significant ‘knock on’ consequences upon the
demand for services provided by community and voluntary organisations.
·
There is a strong emphasis upon PCC’s need to work more closely with others (particularly voluntary
organisations and volunteers) in the future to meet current service needs or
deliver them in new and different ways. However, there is no indication within
the budget simulator of the Authority maintaining or increasing the funding and
support necessary to make this practical.
·
The budget option for the Regeneration and Property budget
includes reducing grant funding for voluntary groups
How to Respond
·
The consultation is targeted at Powys Residents, rather than
organisations, so for this reason it is the number of responses (rather than
who makes them) which will have an impact. For this reason you may wish to
encourage the individual members of your community group or organisation to
respond.
·
You can make your response at: https://powyscc.budgetsimulator.com/, it will take about 10 minutes to complete.
·
If you don’t want to do the simulator or have other ideas and comments to submit to PCC
you can send them to consultation@powys.gov.uk
·
Your organisation and members may wish to send your views and
comments upon the budget options and proposals directly to your local county
councillor and/or the Portfolio Holder responsible for the budget areas you may
have a concern about. Their contact details are available at: http://www.powys.gov.uk/en/elections/find-out-who-my-councillor-is/
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