Dudley Council cuts: Thousands to have say on controversial budget

Under the proposals Dudley Museum and Art Gallery would close and up to 275 jobs will be axed.

Library opening hours could be cut with public toilets, dog bins and gritting lorries also in the firing line. Plans also include a council tax increase of just under two per cent, the equivalent of 43p a week for a band D property.

Bosses say the authority is facing unprecedented cuts in funding from the government and needs to dramatically change the way it delivers services. The council has now launched its annual The Big Question consultation, asking residents for their views on the proposed budget.

More than 6,000 residents took part last year and more are expected to do so this time around.

It will run for 12 weeks until January 31.

Residents will be able to take part through the council's website at www.dudley.gov.uk or by using #DudleyBudget on Twitter.

People can also pick up hard copy versions of the consultation from borough libraries and Dudley Council Plus in Castle Street, Dudley.

Cabinet member for finance on the council, Councillor David Sparks, said: "Over the past two years, the number of people who have taken part in our Big Question consultations has been bigger than any other budget consultation ever held by Dudley Council.

"These are unprecedented times for any local authority as our funding continues to be reduced from the government, and we have to look at new and innovative ways of delivering services.

"This year's Big Question is very much about finding out what services people think can be delivered in another form, by the community and voluntary sector."

Councillor Sparks said the savings are in response to the £65million reduction in government funding since 2010, which is forecast to rise to more than £100million over the next three years.

In 2015/16. Dudley's Revenue Support Grant, its main source of general government funding, reduced by £61 per person, similar to the average for councils providing the same services.

However, some councils were hit far less, with some having their grant reduced by £18 per head - a fraction of Dudley's drop.

The forecast national reductions will represent a cut of more than over 50 per cent to the funding the council receives from central government.

Officials say the increase in council tax will raise an additional £2million annual income for the authority.

At a recent meeting, the council's controlling Labour group came under fire for the cuts.

Conservative leader, Councillor Patrick Harley, said the authority should have been better prepared to ensure such severe cuts, affecting frontline services, were not necessary.