Give your views on Council’s next budget

Residents are being invited to use a special online 'app' which enables them to have a go at trying to balance the Council's next budget to help it meet the Government's spending challenge.

The budget simulator - which is now available via the Council's website on www.southend.gov.uk/budgetconsultation - shows people the possible impact and consequences of their decisions.

It helps residents understand how complicated it is to tackle the budget, how challenging it is to find the essential savings and the potential trade-off between services.

The simulator is also an important tool in the budget consultation process as the responses from residents show what their most important priorities are.

The budget simulator consultation exercise will run until Sunday 2nd September.

Residents without easy access to the internet can still take part as a paper version of the questionnaire will be available at libraries across the town (where they can also use the library computers to access the online budget simulator) or by calling 01702-215000. 

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council Leader, Councillor Nigel Holdcroft, said: "In this tough economic climate, when very difficult choices need to be made, it is even more imperative that we hear the views of our residents.

"We want to give people living in the town their say on where they think the Council should make the savings which have been requested by the Government.

"The views they share in this consultation exercise will help inform our priorities and in turn, how the Council spends the resources available to it.

"The online budget simulator is an excellent and user-friendly way to let us know where you think we should make savings and which Council-provided services should be left alone.

"I urge people to take the opportunity to become involved in the budget-setting process."