Help Wakefield Council make £38m cuts with interactive tool

Council bosses have launched an interactive tool for people to tell them how to make cuts of £38m next year.

After being faced with £185m in budget cuts imposed by the government,during the past five years, the council has reached a point where it can no longer afford to run all its services.

But by law it must set a balanced budget and needs help to decide where to make cuts.

Council leader Peter Box said: “We have already made a lot of budget cuts.

“We really do not want to reduce our services, but the government has cut our funding so heavily that we have no choice.”

The web tool shows the cash currently spent on education, social care, housing, culture, refuse and highways.

It invites people to adjust the amounts and lists the consequences for council services.

Coun Box said: “We now have to look again at the way in which we can reduce our costs and change the way we do things. Unfortunately, though, we are now at the point where we will have to stop providing some services in order to make savings and balance the books.

“There are some very difficult decisions to be made and as a Council we want to engage with residents and business people to find out what they think.

“The You Choose application also demonstrates just how these tough these choices are to make.”

To take part log onto www.wakefield.gov.uk/youchoose