Budget plans: have your say

Monmouthshire residents are being asked for their views on ideas Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) are proposing to balance their budget.

At a cabinet meeting today, revenue budget proposals were discussed and members agreed to ask residents, groups and councillors what they think of the suggestions.

The document includes proposals such as:

• • Increasing the cost of adult education and increasing class sizes - saving £10k
  • Charging for a green waste service - saving £50k
  • Making refuse collection fortnightly rather than weekly - saving £50k
  • Reducing the quality of ingredients in school meals - saving £56k

[To read all the potential changes, see the cabinet agenda - http://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/site/scripts/meetings_info.php?meetingID=28]

Councillor Phil Murphy, MCC's cabinet member for finance, said:

"It's important to stress that the proposals are only ideas that we are looking at as a way of finding ways to make our money stretch

"We find this whole process very painful, it's not something we like doing but we have to think about how we can run our council more effectively.

"We have to identify which services are vital and members and residents will get plenty of time and opportunities to deliberate the money-saving proposals we've outlined.

"We want to have a thorough debate and hear what everyone likes and dislikes before any decisions are made. Members will all be invited to a seminar in January where all the issues can be discussed.

"I hope that all citizens who wish to join in the debate will come to one of the many area forums, school forums and area committees that I will be presenting my report to over the next few months.

"A major reason for why members have to make these decisions is the appalling settlement our council receives from the Welsh Assembly Government.

"Our share of the funding is dire and the increase proposed - 3.7% - is less than the rate of inflation.

"We along with the Welsh Local Government Association have lobbied the government in the hope that we will get what is fair for our residents and we will continue to fight to get appropriate funding for Monmouthshire."