2,500 respond to consultation on services Dudley Council should save in £57m cuts

Dudley Council wants people to select the top five services across the borough that matter the most to them ­- from rubbish collections to children's services and town centre improvements.

So far around 2,500 responses have been received in three weeks since the consultation launched - the same amount received in total last year. There are around 312,900 people living in the borough.

The council is proposing savings of £22.9m for 2015/16, moving up to £25.3m by 2016/17 and £27.4m by 2017/18.

But the council has warned it faces a deficit of approaching £30m by 2017/18 if additional savings are not found.

Councillor Stuart Turner, cabinet member for finance, said he was pleased by the amount of responses received so far, adding: "The response to the Big Question budget consultation in these first few weeks has been overwhelming and we would like to thank everyone who has taken time to have their say.

"We have already received around 2,500 responses in just three weeks which is about the same amount we received in total last year. This is, in part, due to our improved way of communicating with residents through our new e-bulletin service.

"As a community council we have been committed to engaging with local people over the last couple of years and I would remind residents they have until the end of January to take part and can do so by going to our website or visiting their local library or Dudley Council Plus."

The budget proposals so far include a shake-up of Dudley youth services to save £200,000.

There are also plans to increase burial fees, which is expected to bring in £520,000 in the next three years.

Savings will also be made by transferring the management of the New Bradley Hall care home in Kingswinford to a private firm.

Among the proposals already highlighted to save money are plans to turn off some street lights after midnight to reduce energy bills, saving £100,000 by 2018.

Maintenance of parks around the borough could also be hit, with funding for this potentially being reduced in an attempt to claw back £265,000.

The consultation runs until January 25.

People can take part by visiting 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.