Talking Together about the Council's budget

The consultation period has now closed.

Thank you to those residents who have taken part in the budget consultation and to all of those people who have told us about the impact the proposed changes would have.

The consultation period has now closed and all of the information is being collated to give to Cabinet to help inform their debate and decision. We are currently gathering responses to any remaining questions and will publish them during the next few days. You can still read all of the comments made on the discussion forum [external link] but you will not be able to add new comments.

Papers for Cabinet are public documents and will be available through the Meeting Diary web page after the 15th February 2012.

Darlington Borough Council has been working hard to respond to the challenge of increasing demands for services against a backdrop of significant reduction in Government funding. Our challenges are:

  • How we can make services more efficient?
  • Who can provide services at the lowest costs?
  • What services do we provide AND what can we no longer afford to provide?

We have been gathering public views and ideas on the budget proposals so that Councillors can take them into consideration when making the final budget decisions.

Information about the proposals

  • Detailed information about the proposals can be found in the Cabinet Papers
  • An overview of the proposals is available in the Town Crier [PDF Document].

Information in other formats

If you require further detail in other formats please contact us on 01325 388330.

A number of events were held where people were able to give their views.

  • Monday 5 December 2011, 6-8pm (general public)*
  • Friday 9 December 2011, 2-4pm (disabled people)*
  • Monday 12 December 2011, 2-4.30pm (older people)
  • Saturday 7 January 2012, 10-12noon (young people)*
  • Tuesday 17 January2012, 6-8pm (general public)

*BSL interpreters were on hand at these events.

All events took place in the Central Hall at the Dolphin Centre. 

Smaller local events were arranged to find out how individuals will be affected by the proposals.

Comments boxes

Comments boxes were available across the Borough from Friday 18 November 2011 enabling people to leave their views. The boxes were available in the following venues:

  • Dolphin Centre
  • Arts Centre
  • Central Library
  • Cockerton Library
  • Town Hall (reception & customer services)
  • Red Hall Community Centre
  • Firth Moor Community Centre
  • Coleridge Centre
  • The Box
  • Heighington Village Hall
  • Middleton St George Village Hall
  • Middleton St George Post Office
  • The Grange (Hurworth)
  • Sadberge Village Hall
  • Connexions One Stop Shop (Market Place)

Timetable

Tuesday 22 November 2011

Cabinet: Consideration of draft proposals with recommendation to approve for consultation. If approved, this is not final approval of the proposals, it is simply saying that these are the proposals that Cabinet wants to consult on. However, the report is seeking final approval of the two Adult Care proposals on changing Eligibility Criteria and on Severe Disability Premium disregard, which are proposals from last year's budget and have been subject to consultation and Equalities Impact Assessment during this year.

December 2011 / January 2012

Consultation: Major events. More detailed consultation events are to be organised around the equalities impact assessment of proposals. These will be in local settings.

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Cabinet: Cabinet will receive the results of consultation and equalities impact assessment and then recommend the Medium Term Financial Plan, including budget savings proposals to Council.

March 2012

Council: Council will make the final decision on the Medium Term Financial Plan and on savings proposals.