Budget Consultation 2008

Budget consultation report 2008

Gravesham Borough Council has consulted with residents in Gravesham about their council tax for the last five years. The objectives of the consultation are to understand the views of a representative cross-section of Gravesham residents in terms of council services and priorities.

On 29 November 2008 the council held a workshop at the civic centre which was attended by members of the Gravesham Residents' Panel, together with the Leader, the Chief Executive and other senior officers, to enable residents to develop their ideas and discuss their views.

As a result of spending limits set by the government, Gravesham Borough Council needs to make considerable savings for the financial year of 2009/10 and in order to achieve these savings it is necessary to make decisions on how to provide services differently or even stop some of the non-statutory services. In doing this we need to take into account the key priorities set out in our new Corporate Plan 2008/12 which are:

• Environment – to achieve a safe, clean and green Place of Choice
• Communities – to foster vibrant and cohesive communities with affirmative action to promote meaningful engagement, diversity and social inclusion, health and well-being, leisure and culture
• Housing – to seek to provide and work with others to ensure quality and affordable housing
• Business – to secure a sustainable and buoyant economy, particularly in the town centre and Ebbsfleet, with attractive investment opportunities and a developing tourism market
• Regeneration – to maximise regeneration opportunities for the benefit of existing and new communities
• Transformation – to transform the council into an economically sound organisation delivery excellent accessible services that provide value for money

Below you will find the complete 2008 consultation report to download and view.