Anglesey’s Executive has launched a public consultation on its proposed Affordable Priorities Programme of savings and its 2011/12 budget.
The Authority is currently working towards a projected budget of £119m which would require a 4.3% council tax increase to the average Band D rate.
As a result of the financial problems facing local government, the vast majority of services provided by the Isle of Anglesey County Council will feel the pinch.
Detailed proposals outlining a savings package totalling around £7m were presented to Executive last week.
The “Facing up to our financial challenges” consultation document now asks if the Executive is focusing on the right priorities. It also asks for public comment on:
- the proposed level of Council Tax increase of 4.3%?
- the Affordable Priorities Programme proposals?
- how should we achieve the gaps in funding in the medium term?
- where should the Council look to make further savings?
Interim Managing Director, David Bowles, stressed that the budget proposals aim to protect front line services as much as possible, but that more savings are needed if the Authority is to reach its projected savings target of £10m by 2013/14.
He added that it would also be necessary to consider both stronger collaborative working and direct service reductions if this was to be achieved.
Council Leader, Councillor Clive McGregor, is encouraging the Anglesey public to comment on the consultation document and make their views known. He explained, “Given the sheer scale of the funding reductions faced by the Authority over the next few years, we have no alternative but to cut spending or else face an unsustainable and unacceptable increase in the Council tax.”
“The savings package proposed in the Affordable Priorities Programme will allow us to achieve these cuts whilst protecting front line services as much as we possibly can. The programme will now be subject to wide ranging public consultation and will, I’m sure, lead to a great deal of interesting debate during our Executive Question Time sessions.”
After public consultation and feedback from the Authority’s Scrutiny Committees, a whole Council workshop will be held in February to consider the responses and refine the final proposals before the 2011/12 budget is agreed.
The consultation document “Facing up to our financial challenges” is now available on the Council’s website www.anglesey.gov.uk and the public are asked for their views by February 11th.
Comments should be e-mailed to [email protected] or made in writing to:
Affordable Priorities Programme
Managing Director
Isle of Anglesey County Council
Swyddfa’r Sir
Llangefni
Ynys Môn
LL77 7TW
The document is also available in local libraries and a hard copy can be requested by contacting (01248) 752108.
