Participatory Budgeting - Have your Say
Under the above system this has recently been circulated as a consultation exercise by the Staffordshire Commissioner's office. This is the time of the year when a figure is set to finance local services from the Council Tax and other tax that residents pay. It is unclear that if there is to be an increase in Fire and Rescue and Policing if this will mean a decrease in funds to other services provided by other Authorities such as the NBC and SCC - or will their budgets also have to be increased? Although the rate will be set in January, it has been being discussed since October/November. The Council Tax appears to have been increasing year on year and services reducing so it is not always clear where the money is being spent. It is understood that the Police Force has been under special measures for some time. Perhaps we need to know why, so that any issues can be addressed before any increases to the local Council Tax are made. A recent Local Government Finance Policy s...