Plea to have your say on sweeping cuts by council

A bombshell budget has been put together by the ruling Conservatives in a bid to save more than 31 million.

It is the first part of plans to slash spending by almost 85 million in the coming three years.

There has been heavy criticism of the plans with many of the proposals set to hit Hucknall.

Among the ideas are the sale of 13 care homes for the elderly, including the flagship Jubilee Court, which opened in 2003 on the campus of Holgate Comprehensive School in Hucknall.

Other proposals that are likely to impact on the town are the axeing of the Dial-A-Ride taxi-service for those unable to use public transport and increases in the charge for meals on wheels and the use of day centres for the elderly.

A scheme has also been put forward to charge 50 for residents-only parking systems like the one on Yorke Street.

Now a full-scale consultation has been opened. It will run until Friday January 22 and is open to householders, businesses and other organisations.

Bosses at County Hall say the savings will allow them to re-invest in other services, including care for the elderly, support for people with learning and physical disabilities and mental health problems and child protection.

The Conservatives are also trying to keep a promise not to increase council tax next year.

Coun Reg Adair (Con), lead member for finance and property at the county council, said: "We are facing difficult decisions due to the current budget pressures but our aim is to balance the council's budget, offer value-for-money services and keep council tax down.

"Increasing council tax by 11% to find the extra 31 million needed for next year's budget is simply not an option. The government would rightly not allow it and the public would not stand for it.

"We have decided to bring our budget plans for 2010/11 forward by a month to give residents, businesses and other organisations in the county time to comment on our proposals."

The budget will be considered formally at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday February 3 and then at full council on Thursday February 25.

To have your say on the proposals, log on at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/budgetforthefuture or write to: Budget Consultation, NCC, Freepost NG428, Nottingham NG2 1BR.