Balancing the books is vital for any business or organization. That’s no different for Hampshire County Council and it is a challenge that all local councils face.
Hampshire is not ‘facing bankruptcy’ as the press and others have recently suggested. It is important though for the Council to manage its resources appropriately. We must ensure that we both continue to meet our statutory duties to the County’s residents, not least those who are most vulnerable, while also ensuring we do so within our budget.
Managing that balance is ever more challenging and, without substantial help from Central Government, it could become impossible to achieve in three years’ time.
It is therefore important that we continue to look at the services the County Council provides and consider what savings could be made by doing things differently.
Therefore, this week HCC has launched a consultation looking at all of our services. This considers those that we must provide by law, and more importantly those that we provide for which there is no statutory requirement.
It is NOT the case that all these proposals will be implemented. It is vital though that we understand better what is important to you, our residents and how the huge changes we have seen over the last few years, not least as a result of the pandemic, might impact your view of the services the County Council provides.
This consultation will enable us to produce our vision for how the County Council can operate best to help you over the next few years, while also living within our means. Please let us know what you think. You have until July 23rd to have your say.
The information pack explaining the consultation in detail is here: https://documents.hants.gov.uk/.../2023-Hampshire-Budget...
You can submit your response here: https://hampshirecc.welcomesyourfeedback.net/s/budget23
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