Having your say on Basildon Council budget cuts

7:00am Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News By Jacqueline McMillan

Canvassing opinion – Scott Logan, of Basildon Council, with Tina and James Turner Canvassing opinion – Scott Logan, of Basildon Council, with Tina and James Turner

DOZENS of concerned residents seized a chance to have their say on which services matter most as Basildon Council readies itself for sweeping budget cuts.

Basildon Council leader Tony Ball and chief executive Bala Mahendran have warned the authority will have millions cut from its budget over the coming years as the Government tries to cut £18billion from the UK’s welfare budget.

The cuts will lead to staff redundancies and changes to the way it provides its services.

On Saturday, the council held the first in a series of three town centre “Let’s Talk” consultation sessions in Billericay , asking residents which services and facilities are most important to them and need protecting.

Passersby were asked fill out a questionnaire and invited to voice their concerns to council officers, and councillors Phil Turner, Richard Moore, John Dornan, Stuart Sullivan and leader Tony Ball.

Mr Turner, councillor responsible for housing, said: “Things are going to get tough. There is no way we can offer everything we did previously, not in this economy. A lot of people have turned out to air their views.”

This comes after news that up to 11,000 residents face having their council tax benefits slashed as part of the cut backs.

Basildon Council spends about £30million providing services for residents, including rubbish collections, housing support, benefits and leisure services.

Half is made up from sources such as council tax, with the other half provided by the Government. In just two years the funding from Whitehall will be cut to just £10million, leaving the authority with a deficit of almost £7million.

Similar consultation sessions will be held in Wickford and Basildon town centres over the next two Saturdays.

For more information, contact the council on 01268 533333 or visit www.basildon.gov.uk

Comments (7)

7:33am Wed 12 Sep 12

shallotman says...

Could start with cuts at the top.
Could start with cuts at the top. shallotman

9:28am Wed 12 Sep 12

E-Types.. says...

All council big wigs to have their expenses halved and perks looked at.

Trips abroad to look how other countries are doning 'things' stopped immediately!

Mr beach Ball is on one right now luxuriating in a 5 star while he look as how others do 'things'

perhaps he and others Council bigwigs will go on another expensive jolly to see how other countries cut their budget.

Easy start with them!
All council big wigs to have their expenses halved and perks looked at. Trips abroad to look how other countries are doning 'things' stopped immediately! Mr beach Ball is on one right now luxuriating in a 5 star while he look as how others do 'things' perhaps he and others Council bigwigs will go on another expensive jolly to see how other countries cut their budget. Easy start with them! E-Types..

12:10pm Wed 12 Sep 12

Eric Whim says...

halve the allowances/expenses paid out to Councillers. Cut Bahendran right out of the equation - he gets paid far too much for little visible result in my opinion.

Sell off some of Lake Meadows for development - ought to raise a good few quid
halve the allowances/expenses paid out to Councillers. Cut Bahendran right out of the equation - he gets paid far too much for little visible result in my opinion. Sell off some of Lake Meadows for development - ought to raise a good few quid Eric Whim

3:11pm Wed 12 Sep 12

TheWizzard says...

They claim over half a million in allowances every year. Not bad for part time work! That's without what they get from their own businesses that the council have deals with
They claim over half a million in allowances every year. Not bad for part time work! That's without what they get from their own businesses that the council have deals with TheWizzard

9:36pm Wed 12 Sep 12

boom says...

shallotman wrote:
Could start with cuts at the top.
Haha can't see that happening. Bala on +100k part time when he takes semi retirement soon. Bargain eh ? Jollies to Finland and no doubt back to India or China soon to see how they do things. The entire management structure needs looking into
[quote][p][bold]shallotman[/bold] wrote: Could start with cuts at the top.[/p][/quote]Haha can't see that happening. Bala on +100k part time when he takes semi retirement soon. Bargain eh ? Jollies to Finland and no doubt back to India or China soon to see how they do things. The entire management structure needs looking into boom

12:25am Thu 13 Sep 12

Trainman says...

I suggest they start by CUTTING the high-paid office staff salaries by at LEAST 75%, and make THEM try to pay for all the services, the same as the rest of you.

In ANY shop or supermarket, we do NOT pay according to our income, we ALL pay the same prices, so HOW do these people actually 'EARN' their extortionate salaries?
I suggest they start by CUTTING the high-paid office staff salaries by at LEAST 75%, and make THEM try to pay for all the services, the same as the rest of you. In ANY shop or supermarket, we do NOT pay according to our income, we ALL pay the same prices, so HOW do these people actually 'EARN' their extortionate salaries? Trainman

7:14am Thu 13 Sep 12

green green grass of home says...

When you have a leader wasting 9million plus to evict Dale Farm so he can sell it himself to developers like Barratt and no doubt pocket a pretty penny how can you believe anything Ball says hes an outright liar, sell off Billericay and Wickford you gutless waster because Basildon has had enough of you and your lies.
When you have a leader wasting 9million plus to evict Dale Farm so he can sell it himself to developers like Barratt and no doubt pocket a pretty penny how can you believe anything Ball says hes an outright liar, sell off Billericay and Wickford you gutless waster because Basildon has had enough of you and your lies. green green grass of home

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