27 September 2010
A website tool inviting residents to tell local authorities where cuts should be made will allow the ‘most thorough and comprehensive consultation ever taken on local public spending’, according to the Local Government Improvement and Development agency.
YouChoose was initiated by the London Borough of Redbridge to ask the public how they want their taxes to be spent. The LGID is encouraging councils across the country to use the software, which can also be downloaded as an application.
It is a simulator that allows visitors to play council leader by setting budgets, and shows the direct effects of their decisions on different services and council tax rates. Once they have decided on their preferred areas of cuts, the results are fed through and analysed.
Rob Whiteman, LGID managing director, said: ‘This consultation will be one of the most thorough and comprehensive ever taken on local public spending.
‘Residents will be given a breakdown of exactly where their taxes are spent and invited to tackle the incredibly difficult balancing act of cutting millions of pounds from the budget and keeping increases to council tax low, while protecting vital services like schools, libraries, parks and waste collection.’
Redbridge council originally launched its simulator as part of its ‘RedbridgeConversation 2010' project. It received more than 1,200 responses in its first two weeks.
Keith Prince, Redbridge council leader, said: ‘As democratically elected representatives, the councillors will make the final decisions. But before making these difficult decisions, councillors want to hear directly from the people we serve.’
