There are just a few more days left for people to give their views on Wyre Forest District Council’s spending proposals and new three year financial strategy.

The annual budget consultation will close at midday on Thursday 19 January. People can take the survey online or complete paper questionnaires, available at all council buildings and local libraries in Wyre Forest.

People are being asked to comment on a raft of proposals, which include freezing the council’s part of Council Tax bills for the financial year starting in April, for the second year running. This means a typical Band D household in Wyre Forest would continue to pay £3.95 a week to the District Council towards protecting services that local communities value.budget 2

Cabinet Member for Resources Councillor Nathan Desmond said: “We are proposing a budget for affordable growth, with bold ideas to grow income for the Council while also supporting regeneration, housing and economic growth in line with our priorities to “support you to contribute to a successful local economy” and “support you to live in clean, green and safer communities. This is a budget that proposes  investment in the future of the district to help the Council become more financially self-sufficient”.

“Our budget strategy underlines the important role the Council plays in shaping future growth and investment in Wyre Forest and beyond. It also sets out how we propose increasing revenue income for the Council to protect the front-line services that communities value and to deliver the Council’s commitment to keep taxation low.

“These continue to be challenging times and it is more important than ever that we remain committed to operating as efficiently as we can and generating additional external income  to protect services that local communities value.  

“We work hard to offer residents value for money and would urge them to have their say by completing a short online survey on our website or at the Worcestershire Hub at Kidderminster Town Hall.”

This survey can be completed online at http://www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/budgetconsultation2017 There are more details about the budget on the webpage including the Financial Strategy. Public computers are available at the libraries and there is also access to the online survey at the Worcestershire Hub at Kidderminster Town Hall.   A paper version of the survey is also available from the Hub.  The consultation ends at midday on Thursday 19 January 2016.

Cabinet members will finalise their budget recommendations on Tuesday 7 February 2017 after considering feedback from the public consultation.  The final budget will be agreed by full council on Wednesday 22 February 2017.  This meeting will be webcast and can be viewed from the council’s website www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/webcast