Budget 2012 - A message from Councillor James Jamieson

Posted on September 16, 2011

Every day of the year, Central Bedfordshire Council provides services to Eaton Bray and other communities around Central Beds. All of us will make use of some of these services, whether they are road maintenance, waste collection or the social care services that protect vulnerable children and adults; Central Bedfordshire Council spends more than £180 million a year delivering these services.

Looking ahead, there will be less Government grant available for the Council than there has been in the past, as efforts to tackle the national deficit continue. There are also increasing pressures on some of the services provided by the Council because of increasing needs and rising costs.

Central Bedfordshire Council achieved savings of more than £20 million already from reviewing what they do and how they work. This year they must save another £19m and expect further reductions in the next fnancial year.

Taking all these factors into consideration, the Council is preparing a financial strategy for the next four years - and would like your views to be "at the heart of the plans".

Complete the Budget 2012 survey

To have your say on the council's budget priorities, you can complete the survey online using the Budget Survey 2012 form.

Alternatively, please print and complete the survey and return by Friday, 14 October 2011 (you do not need a stamp) to:

FREEPOST RSJS GBB2 SRZT,
Budget Consultation,
Central Bedfordshire Council,
Priory House, Monks Walk,
Chicksands,
Shefford,
SG17 5TQ

What happens next?

The feedback from this survey will help Councillors prepare options for savings for next year and beyond, with consultation on these options during December 2011 and January 2012.

You can keep up to date with the council's budget setting process at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations

Source: Central Bedfordshire Council