Local people urged to speak up over Weymouth and Portland's budget proposals (From Thisisdorset)
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Local people urged to speak up over Weymouth and Portland's budget proposals
12:00pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in Latest By Diarmuid MacDonagh
DECISIONS: Borough council finance spokesman Coun Peter Chapman
Local people are urged to have their say about Weymouth and Portland’s 2013/14 budget proposals.
The contentious plans were approved for consultation at the borough council’s management committee on December 4.
They include demolishing the Pavilion and turning the site into a car park, selling the council offices on North Quay and the Guildhall and selling seafront hotels owned by the authority.
The proposals outline how the council aims to deal with the reduction in the amount of money it receives and has to spend – estimated to be at least £3.9million less by 2019/20.
No final decisions have been made by councillors about the 2013/14 budget.
Councillors will debate the matter at a management committee meeting in February and then ultimately set the budget at full council on February 21.
Results from the consultation will be used to inform councillors, highlight potential impacts of the proposals and ways to manage them while also identifying potential alternatives to the proposals and other ideas.
Councillor Peter Chapman, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council spokesman for Finance and Assets said: “The council has hard choices to make and is very limited about what it can actually do to address the financial situation it finds itself in.
“The council’s cross-party budget working group has worked very hard to come up with the proposals which were approved for consultation by the management committee on December 4, and we look forward to finding out what local people think about them.
“I do understand that not all of what is proposed will be popular but this consultation is also about finding out how the proposals will affect residents and businesses and explaining alternatives.”
The council will consult with the Chamber of Commerce, and is presenting the budget proposals to them.
Stakeholder groups, such as the Forum for Equality and Diversity and other local organisations, will also be asked for their views.
Weymouth and Portland residents who are part of Dorset County Council’s citizens’ panel will also be consulted about the proposals.
More information about the budget process, ideas and an online survey is now available for local people and organisations to complete at www.dorsetforyou .com/weymouthandportlandbudget Paper copies are also available at the council’s North Quay office reception.
The closing date for the questionnaire is January 20.
Comments(2)
Get a grip
says...
7:59pm Thu 10 Jan 13
As an example, I understand that a seafront flat has been kept empty for a number of years.
Are there any other similar properties left empty?
stench says...
2:51pm Thu 10 Jan 13
But it's easier just to slash budgets, make people redundant etc, to get them quick visible savings.
Look forward to the day the Tories are not running the country. One of few good things I have to say about the coalition, is the fact they FINALLY increased the Tax threshold to, nearly, the 10K mark that Lib Dems promised.
Yes we are in debt, but so is everyone else. so where does it end...? my attitude would be different if we were closer to beating the deficit. but with all these cuts we still spend more than we make, therefore are still borrowing more than we can afford. what else can we cut?
The country needs to support it's people, not just expect it all the other way! I am not just a number, I live for more than paying taxes!
I am lucky enough to be in a situation where relocating abroad is an option, but the whole world is going the same way!
We need to have a country full of skilled people! We need to look to countries like Germany to see how our engineering can be improved. then look at chinese manufacturing to for how to be lean (but still pay a proper wage). but of course, that means spending money.
I don't think I could cope if i was on minimum wage! Which MUST be increased to the living wage. A single pesron working full time SHOULD be able to eat, put a roof over their head and afford the odd night out!