Your Local Budget - residents have their say on £225,000 of council spend

This week sees the annual launch of the Royal Borough's participatory budget (PB) scheme - Your Local Budget - in which residents have the opportunity to say where £225,000 of their council tax should be spent.

This is the third year of the 'you tell us' consultation and from Friday 22 June almost 62,000 questionnaires will be delivered to local homes giving residents the chance to rank their priorities on TWO lists of schemes:
• one offering £100,000 for priorities that would be of benefit across the borough and
• one offering £125,000 for schemes that would benefit people living in a particular area - Maidenhead, Windsor and Ascot & The Sunnings.

Voting will also be available online from Friday 22 June.

Cllr David Burbage, council leader, said PB had proven a hit with local people who had directly influenced the use of capital spend in the past two years.

He said: "As a result of residents' involvement the council has boosted highways improvements, provided more facilities for young people and given local communities the tools and supplies they asked for to grit key paths and footways in winter. And last year, as a result of overwhelming support, we installed a new pay-on-exit system in the main shoppers' car park in Maidenhead town centre.

"All of these - and more - are direct results of residents voting for their priority choices through PB consultation. Now it's voting time again and we hope that more people than ever will take part and demonstrate which of this year's priorities will go forward."

Cllr Christine Bateson, cabinet member for planning and partnerships, said: "This is the third year of the PB consultation and we urge people across our borough to get involved in a practical way that really does steer how the council spends part of their council tax. On the other hand, residents may think the council should not spend the money at all - it's their council tax and their choice."

Cllr Richard Kellaway, cabinet member for finance, added: "PB is now an established part of our budget process. It creates community interest and engagement and shows people in a very tangible way that their votes count and that things really do happen as a result."

The £225,000 is from the council's capital budget which means it can be used for one-off projects that are important to local people, their families and communities and their quality of life. Or residents may vote not to spend the money at all.

The priorities listed for people to vote on have once again been drawn up thanks to input from parish councils, borough councillors, chambers of commerce and local town forums and partnerships.

Consultation forms will be distributed to local households from 22 June and residents have until Tuesday 31 July to take part.

The form will also be available at local libraries, council receptions in the Town Hall, Maidenhead, and York House, Windsor, council leisure centres and the First Stop Shops at Eton, Datchet, Sunningdale and Sunninghill.

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