City of Wolverhampton residents can win an iPad by taking part in a survey to have their say on how the council spends their money.

Type=image;ImageID=13919;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Working Smarter Together;TitleClass=strong;

City of Wolverhampton residents can win an iPad by taking part in a survey to have their say on how the council spends their money.

The council has launched a 10 week budget public consultation which will be used to inform the formal budget setting process for 2018/2019 next spring.

Anyone who lives in Wolverhampton and completes a short survey will be in with the chance of winning the iPad.

The council has worked hard to protect essential services and manage its finances amid government funding cuts over the last 7 years.

Over that time the council has had to reduce spending by £200 million due to Government cuts and rising cost pressures at a time where there had been an increased need for services.

Based on current information, the council still needs to address a remaining budget challenge of £15.5 million between now and 2019 to 2020.

The theme of this year's budget consultation is 'Working Smarter Together'. The council wants to have a conversation with community organisations and residents about how everyone can pull together to make our neighbourhoods better places to live and protect the vulnerable.

Councillor Andrew Johnson, cabinet member for resources, said: "We want to hear people's views about how we spend their money. Central Government has cut grants to Wolverhampton by more than 50% in real terms over the past 7 years.

"We still need to find £15.5 million of savings between now and 2019  to 2020 and we are asking the public to tell us what their priorities are when faced with that reality.

"We really do want a conversation with the community about how we can work together to deliver services smarter.

"Anybody who takes part in our consultation will be in with the chance of winning an iPad which has been kindly donated by one of our suppliers."

To take part in the consultation, people can complete an online survey at Type=articles;Articleid=11620;Title=Budget Consultation 2018 to 2019;.

Alternatively residents can come along to a series of public meetings where Councillor Andrew Johnson and Clare Nye, the council's director of finance will talk about the council's budget and answer any questions.

The meetings, which all run from 6pm to 8pm, will take place at:

  • Bantock House Tractor Shed, Wednesday 1 November
     
  • Bilston People's Centre Excel Church, Tuesday 7 November
     
  • Low Hill Community Centre, Monday 20 November
     
  • released: Friday 27 October, 2017