Surprising results from budget consultation

Date:  17 January 2006

A survey of 1,000 local people has produced some encouraging results, say financial experts at Three Rivers District Council.

Residents were asked to say in which of the District Council's four areas of work -

health, safety, environment and prosperity - expenditure should be increased or reduced ahead of next month's budget setting.

People chose promoting safety and environmental issues as the main areas in which they would like the District Council to expand its operations.

Surprisingly for Council officers, over 50% of people said they were willing to accept an increase in Council tax of 3% while over 30% would accept an 6% increase in order to deliver the work.

Leader of the District Council, Ann Shaw, said:

"Last year the Council saved over £100,000 due to increased efficiency. This survey is a vote of confidence in Three Rivers' cost-effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery and will influence our spending priorities for the year.

"The results also show that our current four main areas of work are what people want from their District Council."

Three Rivers District Council, which was officially designated a 'good council' by the Audit Commission in 2004, is working to gain an overall Charter Mark for excellence in public service.

Note

Council Tax: 12p in every pound collected is used by Three Rivers District Council to provide services. The largest share, 76p in every pound, goes to schools, roads and social services provided by Hertfordshire County Council. 10p in the pound goes to the Police to control crime in the community and the remainder goes to the Parish Councils.