One Month Left To Have Your Say On Council’s Budget Proposals

Neath Port Talbot Council is encouraging residents, community groups and local businesses to have their say as the consultation on how the Council can meet its budget shortfall for 2017/18 and beyond enters its final month. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Back in September, Cabinet gave officers permission to consult on more than 80 proposals to save money or increase income. The public consultation was launched in October and closes at midnight on Wednesday 28th December 2016. It has already attracted more than 400 hundred responses.‎ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council Leader Ali Thomas OBE said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The funding that the Council receives has reduced significantly over recent years. As a result we have had to remove around £72 million from the Council’s revenue budget and reduce staffing levels by 20% since 2010 ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We know the people of Neath Port Talbot care about Council services and how they are provided. There is still plenty of time for them to have their say before the survey closes on 28th December, and I would really encourage everyone to do so.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

More information on the proposals and a link to an online feedback form can be found at www.npt.gov.uk/budget. Alternatively, paper copies of the feedback form and boxes for posting completed forms can be found at civic buildings, libraries and other public buildings across the county borough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The feedback from the public consultation will be taken into consideration when setting the final budget in the New Year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​