Bury Council launches consultation

Bury Council has today launched one of its biggest ever consultation exercises to find out what residents think its priorities should be in this challenging financial climate.

The council has to find around £18 million savings by 2015 and this consultation will help inform budget decisions made later in the year as well as the Plan for Change.

Consultation events will take place throughout August and September for the public to discuss the Plan for Change and decide on their priorities.

Residents can also take part by logging on to www.bury.gov.uk/planforchange and completing the online survey. They can also read a full range of information on the website about the Plan for Change process.

The first event will take place on Wednesday 10 August at Connect and Direct at Textile Hall in Bury town centre. Residents will be asked to look at a list of ten priorities and, using tokens, rank these priorities in order.

The ten priorities are:
* Support vulnerable people
* Keep Bury clean and green
* Promoting healthier lives
* A strong local economy
* Managing roads and the transport network
* Encourage vibrant and strong communities
* Leisure and cultural opportunities
* Decent place to live
* Maintain opportunities for high quality education and training
* Better informed and engaged communities

Councillor Mike Connolly, leader of Bury Council, said: “The council faces major financial challenges in the future, on top of the huge savings made this year. Although the figures are still provisional, we will have to find something like £18 million over the next three years.

“This is why we've drawn up a Plan for Change, which looks at how we can best work together to meet these challenges and achieve our objectives.

“Let me be quite clear – the Plan for Change is absolutely not a charter for privatisation. It's about looking at how we work and how we can do things differently to provide quality services in the face of financial hardship and community demand.”

The council has already begun hosting staff roadshows where Cllr Connolly and chief executive Mike Kelly explain the Plan for Change and listen to views and suggestions.

Public consultation events include:

* Wednesday 10 August (1-5pm), Adult Care Connect and Direct, Textile Hall, Manchester Road, Bury.

* Wednesday 17 August, in the Mill Gate centre in Bury.

* At the six Township Forum meetings which take place in September.

There are also plans to hold events in libraries and children’s centres.