TAMESIDE Strategic Commission (Tameside Council and NHS Tameside & Glossop Clinical Commissioning Group) is inviting residents and those who use their services into a consultation ahead of the Budget for the 2021/22 financial year.
Last year, the Strategic Commission spent £974 million on the vital services that many residents depend on. For Council delivered services, around 17% of this comes from council tax, while the rest comes directly from a variety of government sources.
This money pays for a wide variety of services, including:
- £92 million on children’s services, including social care, looked after children, fostering and adoption, Early Help for families and children’s centres.
- £87 million on adult social care such as residential and nursing care as well as our Community Response Service, which allows our elderly and vulnerable residents to live in comfort and dignity in their own home.
- £51 million on maintenance of road and public spaces, bin collections, community safety, libraries, customer services and environmental health.
- £43 million to cover the cost of free prescriptions.
- £40 million for mental health support services as well as other mental health projects and providers.
- £16 million on population health to support residents to take control of their own health and wellbeing.
The Council reports financial challenges over the past year, citing coronavirus and cuts to funding as the main reason. They estimate that a further £60 million in savings will be needed in 2021 stating, “we must find new and innovative ways to provide our services – particularly as we look to “build back better” after the coronavirus pandemic.”
Tameside Council has launched ‘our Budget Conversation’ to encourage local residents and service users to provide their views and ideas on innovative ways to deliver vital local services whilst balancing the budget.
If you have a few minutes to spare, visit ‘our Budget Conversation’ webpage www.tameside.gov.uk/budgetconversation2021-22 to find out more and join in the conversation.
Wider public engagement sessions have also been arranged in order to gather the views of residents. These sessions will be held virtually and take place on:
- Wednesday 18 November 2020, 9am – 10.30am
- Wednesday 25 November 2020, 6pm – 7.30pm
- Tuesday 8 December 2020, 2pm – 3.30pm
Residents may register to attend one of the sessions using the quick form at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BudgetConversationEngagementSessionPreference
The consultation will run until 6 January 2021 after which point all responses will be analysed and incorporated into the decision-making processes for the new Budget, which is due to be released in February 2021.
Councillor Oliver Ryan, Executive Member for Finance and Growth, said: “The past year has been the most challenging in living memory, and Tameside Council and Tameside and Glossop Clinical Commissioning Group have not been immune. Following a decade of austerity, the coronavirus pandemic has also reduced many of our income streams and increased the demand for services. It is clear that action is needed.
“That makes it even more important that we be clear with our residents, communities and businesses about the challenges we face, and listen to their views to make sure that any decisions are made with them, and never to them. The findings from this Budget Conversation will directly feed into the development of the Council and CCGs joint budget for 2021/22, working together to lay strong foundations to protect our vital services and build back better.”