Record number of local responses for Wrexham Council’s Difficult Decisions consultation

Almost 4,000 people took part and had their say on Wrexham Council’s proposals to make £13 million of cuts.

Over the past five weeks residents across the county borough have had the chance to fill in the consultation either online or via paper, with the final results helping to form Wrexham Council’s upcoming budget.

Branded ‘Difficult Decisions’ the consultation identified a funding shortfall of £13 million for 2018/20 and asked residents to have their say on a number of proposals put forward to make the savings and to also put forward their own suggestions.

The savings required over the next two years is in addition to the £18 million already saved over the last three years. Overall Wrexham Council have had to make savings of £52 million since 2008.

The number was the largest to have taken part in a local budget consultation, surpassing the 1,043 people who took part last year.

A number of the proposals have struck a chord with people locally, with seemingly more debate and awareness about the services at risk of being cut than ever before.

There has also been additional questionning from councillors, with ‘special’ scrutiny meetings scheduled throughout the month to further examine the proposals put forward.

Councillors will also be shown the results in workshops over the coming weeks before finalising the budget details and setting the council tax in February.

Cllr Mark Pritchard, Leader of the Council, said: “A big thank you to everyone who gave us their feedback via the consultation.

“We now have some very difficult decisions to make in order to set a balanced budget and set the Council tax for 2018/19. Since 2008 we have already found £52 million and we now need to make £13 million of cuts for 2018/19.”