The Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Finance presented an analysis by YouGov of the You Choose budget consultation exercise, which ran from 19 August to 30 November 2011 and had sought to obtain the views of the public on how the Council could keep Council Tax rises to less than three percent, despite funding cuts from central government. He commented that a total of 1701 submissions had been received during the consultation period and the response rate in Wirral was the second highest of approximately fifty English Councils. Residents had suggested, on average, a total of £29m worth of savings, which would result in a reduction in Council Tax of 3%, which was similar to You Choose consultations undertaken by other local authorities. The Director provided a demographic analysis of the respondents and indicated how the suggested savings were split across all budget areas.

The Chair expressed his thanks to all who had engaged with the consultation exercise and he expected that the findings would be considered by overview and scrutiny committees. The exercise was part of the ongoing consultation process and he hoped it would be used a platform for consultation in the future.

Resolved – That the findings of the You Choose consultation exercise, as part of the ongoing consultation process for setting the 2012/2013 budget, be noted.