Cllr. Mackintosh speaking at the first Police Authority event in Corby
Our You Choose campaign earlier this year gave people the opportunity to tell us which council services they value and help us decide where to prioritise knowing that we have to make over £100 million of savings over four years.
The events with the Police Authority have been a good way of explaining to local residents the vast range of services provided by the County Council and the pressures we face on our funding.
People are often surprised to know the County Council provides services ranging from Fire and Rescue and Trading Standards through to schools, recycling, roads, country parks and libraries.
70% of our services are funded through grants from the Government and this is now effected by the Comprehensive Spending Review. The County Council also faces pressures through an increase in Looked After Children and demands for our Health and Adult Social Services.
To prepare for this, the County Council has looked at ways of prioritising frontline services whilst saving public money in other ways. For example, we have entered into a shared services scheme with Cambridgeshire County Council where we share our IT, finance and legal services.
The events have helped people understand the background to setting our draft budget which will be launched on 14th December when people will again have the chance to let us know their views.
