The Director of Finance submitted a report and gave a presentation to the Committee on the ‘You Choose’ budget simulator.

As part of the 2012/13 Budget Consultation process, on 19 August 2011 the Council had commenced a web-based public consultation entitled, ‘The Great Debate’ using an on-line package known as You Choose. This was a budget simulator developed by YouGov and supported by the Local Government Group which provided residents with the opportunity to suggest changes to close the estimated £25 million budget gap and limit any Council Tax increase for 2012/13. Details had been hand delivered to all residents with the electoral registration forms and a series of You Choose public engagement events were taking place throughout the Borough during the period of the consultation which was due to conclude on 30 November 2011.

Chief Officers had provided information for the simulator which showed the implications for their services of reducing budgets by 10%, 20% and 50% and of increasing budgets by 5%.

Peter Molyneux, Chief Accountant, informed the meeting that so far there had been 1334 suggestions made on the simulator and the results could be analysed on a geographical basis.

The Director, in response to Members’ questions, informed the Committee that the results of the consultation would be reported to the December meeting of the Cabinet. The simulator had been promoted to the Council’s workforce through the Council’s One Brief and also on the internet page. Data analysis provided by YouGov would cost between £1,000 to £3,000. Users of the simulator had to supply the first four digits of their postcodes which gave a broad postcode analysis of the data although there was no system of verification.

Some Members commented that there were flaws in the simulator and that it was a dangerous exercise to suggest that the only way to save money was by cutting services.

On a motion by the Chair it was,

Resolved –

(1) That Committee notes the potential of the system and also its drawbacks.

(2) That the Committee thanks the officers for the demonstration and looks forward to detailed analysis of results in future reports.