The venue for the Elected Mayor’s budget event has been booked and everyone is invited to come along to Parkfield in Paignton from 3.30 until 5.30pm on Wednesday 14 November.

The event has been organised for anyone who would like to hear more about the draft budget proposals for 2019/2020, ask questions or make comments. The proposals can be found at www.torbay.gov.uk/budget

We’ve already made £76 million of savings and efficiencies over the last seven years to achieve balanced budgets, but ongoing central Government reductions in local government grants and increasing demands on council services means it’s becoming increasing difficult to find the required savings.

£17 million pounds worth of savings have to be made by 2022, with £7.5 million needed in 2019/2020.

Next year the Transformation Portfolio will deliver over £1.4 million of savings whilst maintaining services to our communities. The Elected Mayor’s proposed budget includes a Council Tax increase of 2.99% in line with current inflation levels. In addition, the draft budget includes proposals for service change, income generation and efficiencies of around £3 million.

We’re still committed to creating a prosperous and healthy bay and despite the pressures, we still spend approximately £3.6m per week on services in the community (excluding funding for schools and housing benefit payments), and we also plan to spend more than £80m on capital schemes.

We’re encouraging people to let us know their views on the planned public spending for next year through the online consultation at www.torbay.gov.uk/consultation, which closes on Friday 14 December.