Multi-Million Cuts for Cornwall
We're being asked to help Cornwall Council find ways of saving nearly two hundred million pounds over the next four years.
The council says the government-forced cuts will mean the axing of front line services and will radically change the way the council's run forever.
Already £170 million has been saved since 2009. And next year £24 million will have to be shaved from the budget.
It means council tax will have to rise by 2 per cent next year. But this won't cover the loss in government grant.
The council is holding 19 public meetings over the next few weeks to hear where we want the cuts to fall.
Our reporter Wendy Buckingham has been talking to Councillor Alex Folkes. He says it's important we all get involved.
The public consultations will find out the views of members of the public as well as voluntary and community
groups during September and October. These include public meetings
in each of the 19 community network areas between 5 September and 9
October, and a Cornwall Budget Debate at County Hall, Truro on 10 October which will be webcast live on the Council's website www.cornwall.gov.uk.”
The public meetings, all of which will begin at 6.30 pm, are being held at:
Thursday, 5 September St Austell One Stop Shop
Friday, 6 September Perranzabuloe Parish Rooms
Monday, 9 September Alexander Hall, St Blazey
Wednesday, 11 September Launceston Town Hall
Thursday, 12 September Shire House Suite, Bodmin
Friday, 13 September Wadebridge Council Offices
Monday, 16 September St Pinnock Village Hall, near Liskeard
Tuesday, 17 September Pool Innovation Centre
Thursday, 19 September St Johns Hall, Penzance
Friday, 20 September Helston Town Hall
Monday, 23 September Roche Victory Hall
Wednesday, 25 September St Germans Community Centre
Friday, 27 September Millennium House, Pensilva
Monday, 30 September Newquay Treviglas Community College
Wednesday, 2 October Falcon Hotel, Bude
Thursday, 3 October Mabe Village Hall
Friday, 4 October Council Chamber, County Hall, Truro
Monday 7 October Frank Johns Centre, Hayle
Wednesday, 9 October Clease Hall, Camelford
The authority will also be launching YouChoose, an online
budget simulator, on its website during October which will give people
the opportunity to try and balance the budget for themselves.
The results of the public and staff consultation
will then be fed back to the Cabinet to consider before the budget is
finalised.