Kathryn Green, the Press & PR Manager at Wirral Council has been in touch to ask me to let you all know about the Council’s biggest ever consultation. Kathryn says:
This is a really important opportunity for Wirral people to have their say on the future of their services. The council has to save £108 million in the next four years and so rather than simply making cuts, it wants local people to share their views on how they think money should be spent.
In fact you’ll be able to visit their roadshow tomorrow (Friday 17th September) at Hoylake One Stop Shop (10am-1pm) and Hoylake Library (1.30pm – 5pm). Here is the official press release:
Wirral Council hits the road!
Wirral Council is hitting the road starting 13 September for the next phase of a consultation that will help to shape the future of Council services.
The roadshow for ‘WIRRAL’S FUTURE Be a part of it’ – the biggest consultation ever undertaken by the Council – will visit supermarkets, schools, shopping centres, youth centres and local events to get the views of residents’, stakeholders and local businesses. A team will knock on residents’ doors in the hardest to reach neighbourhoods of Wirral and the Council will also be working with the local media and using facebook to make sure as many people as possible can have their say.
Feedback will help to set budget priorities for the next financial year and the process will then be repeated annually.
Councillor Jeff Green, Leader of Wirral Council said:
“We want to make sure that more people know about the decisions the Council takes and that people who want to get involved in the decisions can do so in a way that suits their lifestyle – in a meeting, on line, face to face on the doorstep or by post. For far too long, Government, especially local government, has been too far removed from people. Our consultation calls it a day on the ‘we know best’ attitude and gives everyone in Wirral the opportunity to get involved.”
Questionnaires have been developed based on the discussions of independent working groups with wide representation including staff, service users, local businesses, voluntary and community groups. For people who are particularly interested in a particular area of the consultation; Children and Young People, Adult Social Services, Living in Wirral or Economy and Regeneration; optional, more detailed, questions are available. Once completed, residents will be able to post their questionnaires into boxes situated in leisure centres, One Stop Shops, libraries or any Council office building.
Deputy Leader, Councillor Simon Holbrook explained:
“The roadshow will be visiting many different events and venues every day, seven days a week. I strongly encourage people to get involved and have their say in helping to shape the future of Council Services and how they are delivered. A team will be on hand to answer questions and assist with the completion of questionnaires, which cover issues such as social care, activities for young people, culture and leisure services, street cleanliness and recycling. Our website is being updated daily with new events and information and also includes a facility for people to share their views online.â€
The roadshow timetable and an online questionnaire will be available on the Council’s website from Monday 13 September. Visit: www.wirral.gov.uk/wirralsfuture
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