Taxpayers get chance to have say on spending (From Ilkley Gazette)

Taxpayers get chance to have say on spending

7:00pm Monday 20th August 2012 in Local news By Amanda Greaves

Council taxpayers in Ilkley, Addingham, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Menston are being consulted about how their money is used as public spending cuts loom.

Bradford Council has launched an initial public consultation to ask for views about council spending across the district, in the lead-up to the setting of the 2013-14 budget in February next year.

Council leader, Councillor David Green (Lab, Wibsey), has warned that “difficult decisions” are likely.

The local authority has promised more opportunities for local people to have their say as future spending proposals are developed.

Information has been published on the council’s bradford.gov.uk website, which sets out the local and national context for the budget-setting process, alongside information about priorities and principles, the savings already made, how money is spent now and the main stages in setting the budget.

A printed version of the information will be available from public libraries by the end of August.

Coun Green said: “The council faces challenging times and difficult decisions as unprecedented levels of public spending cuts begin to bite against a backdrop of increasing demand for services and continued economic uncertainty.

“No decisions have been made, and we are open to considering new approaches and ideas. I want this consultation to invite original thinking about how and what services are delivered. Your views do count, and we want you to have your say and tell us what matters to you.”

Feedback from this initial consultation will be used to develop the actual budget proposals, which will be published later in the year when the results of this part of the process and alternative proposals have been considered.

Responses can also be sent to: Freepost RLTC-KEGA-JGRX, Bradford Council Budget Consultation, Britannia House, Hall Ings, Bradford BD1 1HX.

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