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The Council has cut costs by 14 million but needs your help to save more
13 January 2012
Press release number:PR1659
Redbridge Council is once again giving people a say on how it
should make savings following the successful Redbridge Conversation
last year.
We are already on track and agreed to cut costs by £14m last
year with the help of local residents but we need to save more and
want you tell us how those savings should be made to protect
services important to you.
Last year the Council agreed a three-year
plan to save £25m in total after the Government reduced public
spending. This means that Redbridge, along with all councils, is
having to significantly reduce its costs while protecting frontline
services as far as possible.
More than 4000 people had their say last year
More than 4000 of you had your say last year with over 100
comments and suggestions. An overwhelming message that came through
loud and clear was that you wanted to see the Council become more
efficient and reduce back office costs which we have done.
The 2011/12 Budget was broadly in line with residents' views
with a focus on reducing the costs of running the Council.
People also told us that they wanted to see education and
schools protected but accepted that other services including social
care, leisure services and regeneration would be reduced.
Why not complete You Choose online
Anyone with a computer or access to the internet can take part
in the Redbridge Conversation 2012 by completing You Choose. You
Choose is an innovative online tool which was created by the
Council.
It shows how much the Council currently spends on services and
how much the Council can save. Those completing it are required to
balance savings and spending to save £7 million in the overall
Council Budget.
By adjusting the spending you will see the direct effect of this
on services before you submit your choices. You can also share any
other ideas you have about how savings could be made if you do not
find them in You Choose.
Councillor Keith Prince, Leader of Redbridge Council, said,
"Once again the Council has to make difficult choices about funding
services while keeping Council Tax as low as possible. Before we
make any final decisions, I want to give every resident the chance
to have their say about the services they value most.
"That’s why we are asking residents to complete You Choose to
let us know how they think savings could be made and whether they
agree with our saving plans. The results will enable us in setting
the Council’s Budget in March so I encourage everyone to take part
in the Redbridge Conversation.”
Councillor Ian Bond, Deputy Leader of the Council, said, "We're
now part-way through our three-year savings programme. We
have cut the costs of back-office administration and also reduced
the amount spent on councillors and senior management.
"This has helped us protect front-line services as far as we can
and meet the challenges of more children needing school places and
more elderly people needing care. We know this is difficult
but we need to press on with reducing our costs and look forward to
hearing how residents think we should best do this."
We know that not everyone has access to the internet so we have
organised a series of community events across the Borough where you
can get help to complete the consultation. You can also go online
to complete You Choose at all Redbridge libraries.
Venue: Hainault Forest Community Association,100b Manford Way,
Chigwell, IG7 4DF
Date: Monday 16 January 2012
Time: 12.30pm to 4pm
Venue: Ettridge Community Hall, Ray Lodge Estate, Ray Lodge
Road, IG8 7PE
Date: Thursday 19 January 2012
Time: 10am to 2pm
Venue: One Stop Shop, Lynton House, 255 – 259 High Road, Ilford,
IG1 1NN
Date: Monday 23 January 2012
Time: 1pm to 4pm
Venue: Tiptree Community Hall, Tiptree Crescent (off Clayhall
Avenue)
Date: Tuesday 24 January 2012
Time: 1pm to 4pm
The Cabinet will receive a report on early findings from You
Choose later this month and update its proposals and will then meet
in February to agree Budget changes. The Council will set its
Budget for 2012/13 on 1 March.
