Have Your Say On Reading Council Cuts

19 August 2011, 12:13

Heart's been told a Thames Valley authority is trying to make sure the most vulnerable people get to have their say on cuts to local services.

So far nearly 300 people have got in touch with Reading Borough Council during the first month of their on which services they use the most as they look to save 19 million pounds this year.

The 'We Need to Talk' leaflets and online questionnaire will ask people things like what they like about their neighbourhood and which council services they use the most.

                                  Have your say here

The council is promising that in return for people getting in touch - they will listen to what people say, publish what is said and provide feedback on why certain projects or services won't be able to go ahead.

Jon Hartley, Lead Councillor for Service Delivery and Improvement, said:

"This is the beginning of a new and better way of the council working with local people. It isn't a tick box exercise, it will help determine what services the council provides and how they are delivered. We want to know what you value, where you think improvements can be made and how we can best support our active local communities."

The whole project is costing the authority about a thousand pounds.

Reading Borough Council say they want to make sure everyone has access to the survey - particularly those who are vulnerable at at risk of having their services cut.

Bet Tickner is the Lead Councillor for Public Engagement.

"We've got to find ways of getting out into the community more - much more at local level so that we can talk to people in their communities and in their homes of course."

The leaflets will be available at libraries, leisure centres and other community spaces across the town. Councillors will also be handing them out when they go about in their ward.