BUDGET MAKER 2011-2012

This is your chance to set priorities and tell Essex County Council how to keep its spending beneath the limit set by lower government grant and a council tax freeze. The starting position assumes no change in the level of service in 2010-2011. This would require a council tax increase of 14.1%, which is impossible because of the freeze. Budget Maker will tell you when your package of changes is affordable.

	Chosen Increase/ Decrease %	Actual 2010/11 £m	Chosen 2011/12 £m
Satisfed customers		2.7
Greater community engagement		32.1
Supporting charities & volunteers		6.2
Stronger Essex communities		14.0
A higher-skilled population		32.7
Schools		961.4
A healthier Essex		19.3
An Olympic legacy		0.8
Early help for vulnerable people		59.7
Vulnerable young people		124.3
Residents can choose care services		470.5
Older people in communities		41.0
Transport congestion reduced		20.5
Transport infrastructure improved		85.2
Globalised local economy		7.7
Tourism		3.6
Essex championed		9.0
Cleaner, greener Essex		1.1
Reduced carbon footprint		11.4
Less landfill & increased recycling		52.4
Safer communities		49.3
Other		175.0
Total		2179.9

Results

	Change in Government Grant
	Change in Council Tax
	Is this affordable?

Essex County Council aims to make over £300m of efficiency savings by 2013. This is very ambitious but we have already saved about £60m. We are now transforming the Council in these ways:

Buying better – to save £150m
Working with partners – to save £25m
Sharing and trading services – to save £10m
Working smarter – to save £85m
Thinking ahead on IT etc – to save £40m

We will deliver these savings. But we still need to know what your spending priorities are.

Information

Click on one of the following for further information:
Instructions
2010/11 Current Spend

Send us your budget proposal

If you think you've found your preferred package of affordable spending, send us your proposal! Just fill in the following boxes and hit the SEND button:

What is your postcode?
Are you an Essex Council Tax payer?	Yes No
Any comments?