RESIDENTS are being asked what their priorities are for council spending as the authority prepares next year’s budget. 

BCP Council has turned to council taxpayers, businesses, community groups and more to imagine that they were in charge of setting the budget for 2025/26. 

Residents will also be asked to tell the authority what they think are its most important services and will be asked about their views on council tax rates and indicate how informed they feel about the council’s overall financial situation. 

This year’s budget has seen a number of services cutbacks, redundancies and assets being put up for sale to balance the books. 

In addition, council tax went up the maximum amount without a referendum, 4.99 per cent. 

For the next financial year, residents can have their say on whether they would like spending to increase or decrease on key services such as maintaining roads or offering child and adult social care. 

The findings of this public consultation will help inform decisions on how the council sets it budget for 2025/6 and beyond.  

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Council leader Millie Earl said: “Councils across the country are dealing with an unprecedented funding crisis.  

“Our priority is to protect key services, support the most vulnerable and provide a sound, stable financial future for the council, whilst working with other councils to raise the profile of the crisis in local government funding.” 

She said “significant steps” have been taken over the past year to balance the books, noting the removal of the Best Value Notice warning from the government following criticism of its governance and finance. 

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Cllr Earl added: “The council is working hard to remain on track throughout the next financial year.  

“This means we must be hyper vigilant with our budget and work in a streamlined manner to find savings and efficiencies when we can.  

“We’re putting our residents first. We want you to know we’re on your side and we want you to be involved in local decisions that affect you, your family and your community and that’s why we want to hear about your priorities for the council through this consultation.”  

Residents have until 11:59pm on November 29 to complete the survey and submit their ideas by visiting haveyoursay.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/budget. Hard copies are also available at libraries.