The next Norfolk Matters, out in January 2005, will be a special budget consultation edition and we would welcome your view as part of this. So I am writing to give you advance warning that the consultation is coming because sadly, the lateness of the Government’s announcement on council grant levels for 2005/6 (2nd December), means that the timescale will be very tight. This means that it may not fall conveniently for the normal cycle of meetings for parish councils, school governors and other organisations.
As part of our consultation on next year’s budget, we are currently consulting residents about their views on service priorities. This is taking place through the latest ‘Your Norfolk’ magazine, delivered to households throughout the county in November, on-line (www.norfolk.gov.uk) and through the council’s cycle of review panel meetings. The Cabinet will use the results of this to help frame more detailed options for consultation with you when the settlement announcement is known. This will include implications for possible Council Tax levels.
We want as many people and organisations as possible to express their views in time for the next stages in the budget setting process. Key dates are:
Comments received before January 31st will be reported to Cabinet. Those received after this date but before February 21st will be made available to Council.
Distribution of the budget consultation edition of Norfolk Matters will begin as early as possible in January. Although the newsletter will include a form and freepost address, it will be extremely helpful if as many responses as possible are made on-line. Details will be in the newsletter, but the form will be available – along with a copy of the newsletter – on the County Council’s website (www.norfolk.gov.uk) from early January.
Yours sincerely
Joanna Hannam
Head of Communications