Residents invited to meet Wiltshire Council leaders in January
Residents are being invited to join Wiltshire Council leaders this month to discuss the services that the council provides and its plans for future years.
The Focussing on the Future public meetings will be spread across four dates in locations around Wiltshire this January.
The first is on Tuesday 7 January at Salisbury, the next on 9 January at Chippenham and then the final two on 15 and 16 January at Trowbridge and Devizes respectively.
The meetings will be an opportunity to focus on how the council is changing to provide the services that taxpayers expect and need both now and in the years ahead.
Since 2017/18, the council has saved around £67 million by working more efficiently and prioritising services but it estimates a further £15 million must be saved next year.
Demand for services continues to grow, especially in social care, at a higher rate than the current budget. This means strong financial planning is vital, as well as a programme of transformation, digitisation and commercialisation. Wiltshire Council has also pledged to be carbon neutral by 2030 and its councillors have agreed to seek to make the county of Wiltshire carbon neutral by 2030.
Cllr Philip Whitehead, Leader of Wiltshire Council said: "We want our residents to be passionate and engaged in our work and the services we provide and I hope we have a good cross-section of people attending.
"These meetings will help people get the all-important context to our decision-making process and some of the plans we have.
"I don't just want to talk at people, I welcome attendees to have an honest conversation with us and challenge where they see fit."
There are also just a few hours left to try out the council's budget simulator where people can say where they think the money should be spent, how savings can be made and suggest ways of bringing in more income.
The budgets and feedback received from the budget simulator will be used to shape the council's budget proposals for 2020/21.
You can have a go at balancing the budget here before the consultation closes on 3 January 2020.
Dates and venues of Focussing on the Future meetings
Date | Location | Venue | Timing |
Tuesday 7 January 2020 | Salisbury | The Alamein Suite, City Hall | 5.30pm 7pm |
Thursday 9 January 2020 | Chippenham | Council Chamber, Monkton Park | 5.30pm 7pm |
Wednesday 15 January 2020 | Trowbridge | Cotswold Room, County Hall | 5.30pm 7pm |
Thursday 16 January 2020 | Devizes | Devizes Community Hub and Library | 5.30pm 7pm |