Local people are being given the opportunity to directly influence the way part of their council tax is spent in a Royal Borough budget first.
The council has set aside £½m of its 2010/11 capital budget and is asking residents to say if they want to spend it on local projects – and if they do, which projects they think should benefit from an extra cash injection. Alternatively they can opt for not spending the money at all.
A major consultation launched this week sets out eight different options for how the money could be used in projects as wide ranging as roads maintenance and heritage schemes.
Residents are being asked first if they think the money should be spent at all and then, if they do, to rank their choices from 1 to 8. When the consultation ends the council will use the infomation to either not spend the money or target it at the two or three most popular local choices, depending on what people have said.
