Hundreds of people have had their say on Wirral Council’s budget priorities for the coming year as the consultation reaches its midway point.
The council has been asking residents to take part in the consultation to help councillors and council staff understand their key priorities for the coming year within the reduced budget it has.
More than 300 surveys have been completed and dozens more have added their ideas and suggestions as the authority looks at setting a budget for 2022-23.
The consultation asks people to say how important various council services are to them, such as social care, housing, homelessness, public health, regeneration work, leisure, highways (including street lighting and cleaning) and bins and recycling, and whether they believe any of these need additional investment.
It is estimated to cost £329.4 million to deliver council services in the coming year, based on last year’s costs. At present, like all local authorities, Wirral Council is awaiting the detailed Government announcement on funding for next year and is working on budget setting based on a range of possible outcomes.
However, preparations have to be made for the worst-case scenario so that whatever the actual outcome, the council will be ready to make the necessary savings to deliver a legal balanced budget, which must be set to allow for the continued provision of the vital frontline statutory services residents and businesses depend upon. The consultation aims to establish what council services and work that the residents of Wirral want to see prioritised as the council prepares to set the budget for 2022-23 and what areas will have to change or stop to ensure a balanced budget can be set.
To have your say please visit the dedicated Wirral Council budget consultation webpage: haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/council-budget-2022-23 
Here you will find more information about the council’s spending and income, and a questionnaire.
An easy read version of the budget booklet is also being made available and printed copies of the questionnaire will be available for those who cannot access the online version at Wallasey, Bebington, Birkenhead, West Kirby and Pensby libraries.
The public consultation is taking place over four weeks and will end on 28 November.
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