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Wirral Council launches public consultation over budget reductions

Wirral Council is urging people to have their say on an extensive list of savings options, which aim to tackle a funding gap of £27.5 million.

A consultation, ‘What Really Matters’ , has been launched to seek comments from local residents, community groups, partners and council staff before the authority’s budget is set in December.

The consultation, which will last for twelve weeks, will include roadshows and events across the borough to provide as many people as possible with the opportunity to have their say on a range of budget proposals.

This is the second time that Wirral Council has undertaken the ‘What Really Matters’ consultation, which last year contributed to savings of almost £50 million through so-called ‘back office’ costs, including efficiencies in areas such as administration, marketing, agency costs, car mileage and phone bills.

Chief Executive of Wirral Council, Graham Burgess said: “These are tough times - for our staff, councillors, and most importantly the people we serve. Councils across the country are facing major cuts in funding and the government is continuing to reduce the amount of money councils are able to spend on services, especially in the north.

“We have more extremely tough decisions to make over the coming months and the only way that we can do this is in partnership with Wirral people.

“To refuse to make the savings demanded of us would mean setting an illegal budget, which would ultimately result in the wholesale closure of services - putting thousands of vulnerable people at very real risk.

“Our duty as public servants is to do all we can to use the limited resources we have left in the most effective way possible to continue to ensure the services that people rely on most remain available in some form.”

In the coming financial year, the authority has a budget gap of £27.5 million.

Mr Burgess said: “The decisions are not going to be easy but there is around £5 million worth of choice in terms of where the necessary savings can be found. That is why it is so important for people to take part and influence the future of their local services.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .