Wirral Council chief says budget savings will result in “radical and rapid” change

Oct 10 2012 by Helen Hunt, Heswall News

WIRRAL’S council leader is urging residents to have their say about how they can tackle a £100m budget black hole as a huge consultation deadline comes to a close.

The “What Really Matters” consultation ends in just two weeks.

Council leader Cllr Phil Davies said it was important that people do not miss on the chance to take part as the savings they have to make will result in “radical and rapid change”.

Wirral council has been asked to save around a third of its budget – around £100m – over the next three years. Where the changes will be made will be influenced by this consultation.

Cllr Davies said: “The scale of the savings we are being forced to make is greater than anything we have faced before. The removal of one third of our net budget means that we must reduce our spending by around £100 million over the next three years.

“I cannot stress enough how important it is that people get involved in this process.

“We have no choice but to become a different council and this is going to mean radical and rapid change, making sure that our remaining budget is carefully targeted at our residents’ main priorities. We need to know what services matter the most to people and their families so that we can make sure that we spend our reduced budget on the right things.”

So far the council has been pleased with the level of responses but more views are needed.

The questionnaire asks about peoples’ highest and lowest priorities and whether it would be right to increase fees for certain chargeable services. The survey also asks whether the council should consider outsourcing or sharing some local services with other organisations and which, if any, services should be stopped or reduced.

The council has received 4,000 completed questionnaires already but nearly 40,000 forms have been handed out.

The “What Really Matters” consultation comes to an end on Friday, October 19. Take part by visiting www.wirral.gov.uk/whatreallymatters.