HAVE YOUR SAY ON RICHMOND’S SPENDING CUTS
Richmond residents are being urged to explore the difficult choices facing their council and share their priorities through a new survey as devastating government cuts threaten funding for vital local services.
The survey asks residents to weigh up what matters most to them and the approaches the council could take to manage its finances, helping inform decisions about how to meet the funding shortfall.
Questions include council tax, transport services as well as support for those vulnerable in the community such as children and older people as well as CCTV, wardens, the environment, climate change, children’s playgrounds, public toilets, street lighting and libraries.
Councillor Gareth Roberts, Leader of Richmond Council, said: “This is your opportunity to see the challenge of balancing the books when faced with devastating cuts, and tell us what you would prioritise.
“Richmond is being unfairly targeted. The government is choosing to take away almost 60% of our core funding, and any decisions we are forced into as a result sit firmly at their door.
“We are fighting these cuts and will be relentless in finding further backroom efficiencies. But we must also plan ahead in case ministers refuse to change course.
“Before we take decisions, we want to hear from you. This interactive survey gives you the chance to weigh up the choices and tell us which services and priorities matter most to you and your family.”
The cuts will reduce Richmond’s annual core funding by £29 million by 2028/29, a reduction of 58%.
The council has formally challenged the funding settlement through the Sustainable Communities Act and is continuing to press the government to change course.
Councillor Jim Millard, Deputy Leader of Richmond Council and Lead Member for Finance and Resources, said: “We will keep fighting these reckless cuts while making every single pound count.
“We have already identified £11 million of savings this year and a further £13.4 million next year by improving how the council works.
“We will keep driving backroom efficiencies, but savings alone will not close the gap left by the government.
“We must face up to the difficult choices that remain, and residents must have their say before we take decisions.
“This interactive survey will help us understand residents’ priorities and inform our decisions.
“You can rank the spending priorities that matter most to you and tell us which approaches to managing costs you find most and least acceptable.
“The government has imposed these cuts, but residents deserve a voice in how we respond. Please take part and help us better understand what matters most to you.”
The council will consider the survey results before deciding how to address the remaining funding shortfall.
To take part now, visit the survey by December 13.
The council states: The UK government is cutting Richmond’s funding.
These unfair cuts will see central Government’s funding for council services in Richmond reduced by almost 60% by 2028/29, equivalent to an annual reduction of £29 million. On your behalf, we continue to fight this funding cut and have submitted proposals to Government under the Sustainable Communities Act to challenge them.
We hope they will change course. However, being a responsible council means we need to plan ahead, in case they don’t. Taken together with an expected rise in demand from vulnerable residents needing support, as well as rises in costs and inflation, these unprecedented cuts mean we need to be ready to do things differently in order to remain financially sustainable.
Already, we have identified £11m that we will save this year and a further £13.4m next year by improving how the Council works. There will be more to come, and we will be relentless in driving further backroom efficiencies. However, funding cuts at this scale would mean we have to go further, and redesign and reprioritise some council services.