Budget consulting

Question

Does anyone consult with the public when it comes to budget setting time please? or is it best to ‘let sleeping dogs lie’ as ‘they’ wouldn’t understand’.

Answer 1

It's good practice to consult the public periodically about their priorities, but this is usually done through a Parish Plan exercise. This should be used to guide the council's work, as it shows you are listening and responding. However to tie this into the budget setting process would be difficult, not least because of the time it would take. Councillors are elected to make decisions on behalf of the electorate and setting the budget is one of those decisions.

Comments

Good question Helen. The plain and simple fact is that once elected Cllrs can spend as much money on whatever they want  and are required to offer no explanation. Nor can the be challenged on any decision.  I have often been told that if you don't like it "you can seek your remedy at the next election". Getting Councils who have enjoyed such autonomy for years to  change is like drawing teeth.