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HAVE YOUR SAY - HCC Balancing the Budget Consultation 2023/24 Open for Feedback
16th June 2021
The Balancing the Budget Consultation starts 7th June
To date, by planning ahead and using reserves carefully, the County Council has successfully found ways to deliver services differently and more efficiently, securing recurring savings of £560 million over the past 13 years. However, continuing to deliver important local services during the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside existing pressures from over a decade of national funding reductions and increased demand for County Council services has placed an additional burden on the Authority’s financial resilience. Furthermore, in the absence of a multi-year funding settlement from the Government, the County Council continues to face a budget shortfall of at least £80 million over the next two years (2022/23 and 2023/24). Councils across England are facing the same budgetary pressures.
This requires us to make more tough decisions about what the County Council can and cannot provide in future.
Opportunities for reducing costs are getting harder to find which is why it is important that the County Council listens to the views of residents and stakeholders, many of whom are likely to be affected by the outcomes.
This consultation presents a range of options that could contribute towards balancing the budget. These might involve:
HCC would like to hear from as many residents and stakeholders as possible. Feedback will help to inform areas where the County Council could focus on balancing its budget through to 2023/24 and help us to understand and consider the potential impact of any changes proposed.
It is important that residents and stakeholders are clear that no prior decisions have been made regarding the proposals.
People can take part in the consultation via the online response form on the webpage:
www.hants.gov.uk/balancingthebudget, which will be live from midday on Monday 7 June.
There will also be a full information pack about the proposals in the consultation on this webpage.
Paper copies can be requested by emailing insight@hants.gov.uk or calling 0300 555 1375 and will also be available from local Hampshire libraries.
To date, by planning ahead and using reserves carefully, the County Council has successfully found ways to deliver services differently and more efficiently, securing recurring savings of £560 million over the past 13 years. However, continuing to deliver important local services during the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside existing pressures from over a decade of national funding reductions and increased demand for County Council services has placed an additional burden on the Authority’s financial resilience. Furthermore, in the absence of a multi-year funding settlement from the Government, the County Council continues to face a budget shortfall of at least £80 million over the next two years (2022/23 and 2023/24). Councils across England are facing the same budgetary pressures.
This requires us to make more tough decisions about what the County Council can and cannot provide in future.
Opportunities for reducing costs are getting harder to find which is why it is important that the County Council listens to the views of residents and stakeholders, many of whom are likely to be affected by the outcomes.
This consultation presents a range of options that could contribute towards balancing the budget. These might involve:
- Introducing and increasing charges for some services; Lobbying central Government for legislative change; Generating additional income; Using the County Council’s reserves; Reducing and changing services; Increasing Council Tax; Changing local government arrangements in Hampshire.
HCC would like to hear from as many residents and stakeholders as possible. Feedback will help to inform areas where the County Council could focus on balancing its budget through to 2023/24 and help us to understand and consider the potential impact of any changes proposed.
It is important that residents and stakeholders are clear that no prior decisions have been made regarding the proposals.
People can take part in the consultation via the online response form on the webpage:
www.hants.gov.uk/balancingthebudget, which will be live from midday on Monday 7 June.
There will also be a full information pack about the proposals in the consultation on this webpage.
Paper copies can be requested by emailing insight@hants.gov.uk or calling 0300 555 1375 and will also be available from local Hampshire libraries.