You Choose Budget Simulator

Thank you for your interest in the Budget Consultation 2011/2012. This consultation has now ended and feedback on the consultation will be available in the near future. If you would like further information on this you can email: communications@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk or contact 01642 444515.

The Council needs to save £15 million. We want your views on how we should do this.

The Government funds a large part of the councils revenue expenditure through a range of grants. This funding has been substantially reduced, particularly for 2011-12. This combined with the Councils own provisions and pressures, means that we need to save £15 million.

Thats where you come in. Where do you think money might be saved? What are your service priorities? How would you spend the cash?

Redcar and Cleveland Council have set up an online budget simulator called You Choose, which allows you to make your own decisions about how the Council should spend money on achieving the agreed priorities.

The programme takes you through all the key objectives, with details of the budget demands for each objective, ranging from services for children & young people and the care of older people to tackling anti-social behaviour, regeneration and transport. There are also specific options that can be selected for raising more money or making savings. You can then submit your budget, anonymously, to feed into council decision making.

The Councils Cabinet, which takes key decisions on behalf of the Council, will consider all submitted budgets before they make their budget proposal to Council in March 2011. Feedback on all budgets submitted and final decisions taken will feature on these web pages, post March 2011.

This online consultation follows a similar exercise carried out for last years budget, which provided a further level of analysis of local residents' views on the Councils budget.

Please read the following information regarding the Cabinets budget proposals then at the end use the link to the budget simulator to let us know what decisions you would make.

• Cabinet's Budget Proposals

Your Budget Proposals

Now let us know your views regarding where you think money might be saved, and what your priorities are.

Remember to use the 'READ MORE' button to view background information for each area, and the 'CONSEQUENCES' button to see the implications of your proposals; to ensure you are aware of and endorse the effects of the final budget you submit.