Residents are invited to join a big conversation about Bury Council’s next budget at a series of opportunities starting this month.
The council sets its budget for the year ahead every February and expects its 2023/24 budget to be particularly challenging.
It is therefore holding preliminary conversations with residents to help develop its priorities, which will be followed by formal consultation on options when they are prepared.
Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, leader of the council, said: “Every year our resources are increasingly stretched beyond our control. More than £100m of government grants have been withdrawn in the last 10 years, and there is increasing demand for services – particularly in adults’ and children’s social care, which together make up two-thirds of our budget.
“So far we’ve managed by changing the way we deliver services; calling on the support of residents and community groups and investing in services where it will help in the long run e.g. fostering and adoption for children and economic development.
“This year we expect the budget setting will be particularly difficult due to the cost-of-living crisis, significant reductions to our funding and the as-yet unknown health and economic impacts of Covid.
“The latest budget forecasts are that we will need to make cuts of £19.5m in 2023/24 and this is likely to increase.
“Before detailed work begins on budget planning, we want to have a conversation about what council services you would prioritise, how we might work with residents to reduce demand for services, and where we might increase income.”
As well as these conversations in August and September, there will be an online questionnaire that residents can fill out: https://www.onecommunitybury.co.uk/bury-council-budget-2022
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Tuesday 23 August |
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Wednesday 24 August |
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Wednesday 31 August |
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Thursday 1 September |
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Friday 2 September |
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Tuesday 6 September |
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Wednesday 7 September |
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Friday 9 September |
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Through the above sessions, and online, residents will be asked to ‘vote’ for a number of priorities, including public health, learning & education services, community safety, green spaces and much more.
All feedback will be used to inform the final budget options which will be formally consulted on from October 2022.
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