Residents urged to complete budget survey

People are being urged to have their say on a range of budget proposals put forward by Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet.

A short survey to gather feedback on the Cabinet’s key proposals, including a freeze on car parking charges, a 2.39% increase in council tax and extra money for maintaining verges, is now live on the council’s website.

The survey also asks people’s views on proposals to support planning growth, invest in community projects, continue the district’s successful Localism initiative, support environmental and planning enforcement teams and increase income targets.

The survey, which takes under 10 minutes to complete online, will run from today, Wednesday 19 December through to Thursday 17 January 2019. Comments and feedback will then be considered by the council before the budget is set in February.

The survey is live at www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/budget2019.

Paper copies of the survey are also available at Wyre Forest House, the Customer Service Centre at Kidderminster Town Hall, and district libraries for people who do not have access to the internet.

Cabinet Member for Resources Councillor Nathan Desmond said: “We hope as many people as possible take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire and let us know what they think of our proposals.

“We believe this is a draft budget that builds on local people’s priorities, invests in services they value most and avoids spending cuts that other councils have opted to make.

“We will continue to review how we operate, make greater use of technology and digital solutions and take advantage of new income streams to fund services people value the most.”

Wyre Forest District Council Leader Councillor Marcus Hart said: “It is vital local people have the chance to comment on our proposals. We will take on board their feedback and comments before setting the budget for the new financial year.”

The main budget proposals include:

• Freezing car parking charges across Wyre Forest for 2019-20

• Investing £30,000 to maintain standards of highway verges for 2019-20

• Strengthening the council’s environmental protection and enforcement team with a new fixed term post with costs partly offset by an increase in income.

• Providing extra support to the planning enforcement team which will be funded entirely by service efficiencies and increased income from planning fees.

• Raising income generation targets by £75,000 in 2019-20

• Increasing the amount of Council Tax for district council services by 2.39% in 2019-20

• Topping up the district’s Community Localism Fund to continue the excellent partnership working with Parish and Town Councils and other local organisations to safeguard local services and facilities.

• Continuing to provide £33,000 for the Community Leadership Fund which supports local charities and good causes in every ward of the district.

For full details please see the Cabinet Agenda and Budget Report.