Express & Star

Have your say over proposed Wolverhampton Council cuts

People in Wolverhampton will be given the chance to have their say on massive council cuts planned for the coming years.

Published
Wolverhampton Council

Council bosses are preparing to swing the axe as part of efforts to save up to £50 million over the next five years.

Households are set to feel the pain with council tax set to rise by nearly five per cent from April on top of the introduction of fortnightly bin collections.

Up to 500 jobs could also go as council bosses try to solve the crisis surrounding the authority's finances.

Chiefs say they have been left with no choice but to make savage cuts in order to tackle 'the most challenging financial situation it has ever faced'. The authority says £695,000 worth of cuts in 2019/20 will 'impact on the public'.

People are being asked where the council should prioritise spending, while feedback is also wanted on the plans to hike council tax.

Councillor Louise Miles, cabinet member for resources at Wolverhampton Council, said: “Like every council across the land, we are being hit with ongoing massive cuts from central Government at a time when demand for our services and costs are going up.

“To be able to balance our books, we continue to have to pass on these government cuts by reducing services and raising council tax.

"There really is no choice and this continues to be the most challenging financial situation we’ve ever faced.

“We want an up-front conversation with our residents to explain the situation and seek their views on where our finite resources should be prioritised faced with this stark reality.

“I would urge everyone to have their say which is easy to do online or by attending one of four public meetings.”

The consultation will run until the end of the year and can be completed at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/budgetconsultation.

Four public meetings will also be held over the coming weeks at Bantock House Tractor Shed, Bantock Park, off Finchfield Road, October 25; Low Hill Community Hub, Kempthorne Avenue, November 1; Bob Jones Centre, Bromley Street, Blakenhall, November 13 and Bilston People’s Centre, Excel Church, Wolverhampton Street, November 15, all starting at 6pm.