Public meetings over new Northumberland council budget

Posted by The Journal on Jan 13, 09 11:25 AM in Councils

Public meeting A series of 14 public meetings aimed at helping Northumberland's new unitary council frame its first-ever budget begins tomorrow - with a plea to the public to play its part in the process.

The all-purpose authority, which will take over from the existing county council and six districts in April, has to find budget savings of about ÃÂ£25.5m in 2009/10 to balance the books.

The Liberal Democrat-led council is planning about 800 job losses and a council tax increase of 4.8% this year, but says it needs to make extremely tough decisions on where the spending axe will fall.

Now it is seeking the input of people across the county at a series of area committees and budget consultation meetings which start tomorrow.

County council leader Jeff Reid says that while all local authorities are being told to make tough budget cuts, Northumberland is having to do so at the same time as dealing with flood recovery, the Icelandic banks collapse and local government reorganisation.

"In order to develop the budget and council tax for next year, we would like to ask people for their views on the proposed cost savings we need to make.

"In addition to the formal consultation we are undertaking, the council is arranging a series of public meetings where residents and stakeholders can learn about the issues we are facing and ask questions of the executive.''

The timetable of meetings is:

Tomorrow:
10.30am, Wansbeck area committee, Ashington leisure centre;
2pm, budget meeting, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea sports centre;
7pm, Blyth Valley area committee, Buffalo Centre, Blyth.

Thursday:
9am, budget meeting, Bedlington Community Centre;
2pm, budget meeting, Choppington Social Welfare Centre;
7pm, budget meeting, Ashington Central First School.

Friday:
10.30am, Berwick area committee, CAB conference room, Tweed Street, Berwick.

Monday:
10.30am, budget meeting, Dovecote Centre, Amble;
2pm, budget meeting, Jubilee Hall, Rothbury;
6.30pm, Alnwick area committee, Alnwick council chamber.

Tuesday:
6pm, Tynedale area committee, Beaumont Hotel, Hexham.

Wednesday:
2pm, Castle Morpeth area committee, Stannington Village Hall.

Thursday:
2pm, budget meeting, Concordia leisure centre, Cramlington;
6pm, budget meeting, Prudhoe High School.

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