I received this today as a member of the Bridgend CBC Citizens’ Panel.I would urge all Bridgend residents to read it and undertake the online survey + book onto one of the consultation meetings listed below, preferably after reading:

• https://bridgendgreens.wordpress.com/2014/10/10/report-of-the-wales-against-austerity-and-cuts-conference-cardiff-41014/
• https://bridgendgreens.wordpress.com/2014/10/05/analysis-of-2015-16-wales-government-draft-budget/

I would go to the Bridgend College one, but we have our Branch meeting that night so I will probably look to go to the Pencoed one.

Andy C

Dear panellist,

As you may be aware all across the UK, local councils are facing unprecedented challenges in the face of reducing Government funding and increased demands on essential services. As Citizens’ Panel members we would like to welcome your views on our public consultation over how Bridgend County Borough Council’s plans to deliver a balanced budget in 2015-16.

The consultation will take place between Monday 6 October and Monday 17 November and will ask local people for their views on how the council is proposing to deliver services and save money against a backdrop of diminishing local government resources.

Designed to give residents an opportunity to make their own alternative suggestions while answering a series of structured questions, the consultation will incorporate a number of community workshops and an easy-to-use ‘budget simulator’ tool which will enable people to demonstrate how they would go about spending the council’s £255m budget, determine which services need to be prioritised and identify a savings target of £12.4m for the year. The savings achieved will facilitate a proposed council tax increase of 4.8 per cent for 2015-16.

People can take part in the 2015-16 budget consultation by visiting the consultation pages at the council’s website – www.bridgend.gov.uk/consultation – or attending one of the following community engagement workshops.

– Wednesday 29 October: Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen, 6pm

– Monday 3 November: Maesteg Comprehensive, 6pm

– Tuesday 4 November: Pencoed Comprehensive, 6pm

– Thursday 6 November: Bridgend College, 6pm

– Tuesday 11 November: Cynffig Comprehensive, 6pm

– Wednesday 12 November: Porthcawl Grand Pavilion, 6pm

If you would like to attend a community engagement workshop at one of our six venues, please secure your place by emailing: consultation@bridgend.gov.uk.

You can also pick up a copy of the consultation at your local library or life centre and use publically available IT facilities to fill it in online or access the budget simulator.

If you have any questions or concerns about this survey, or would like more information, please contact Andrew Harris at Bridgend County Borough Council on 01656 643664.

Councillor David Sage

Deputy Leader, Bridgend County Borough Council