Let's Talk Middlesbrough Survey

fmttmadmin

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If you live or work in Middlesbrough you might like to feed back on the current budget proposals. You can have your say on every item one by one. But the deadline is 23rd January, so looming up soon.
They need to hear more voices and opinion on budget cuts that would presently mean less libraries, less support for the vulnerable and far less provision for youth services, less street wardens, less street lights, no welfare advice, potentially no free public events (from the Mela to Discover Middlesbrough). All this at a time when M&S is closing and the town centre is up against it.

These are my opinions. If you live or work in Middlesbrough you should think about giving your opinions. Have some say now on decisions that will impact on the future as well as the present.

Click on Lets Talk 23 Survey
 
They've mentioned the word 'consultation' so therefore it's already been decided exactly what will be cut, what will be retained and what Preston can waste more money on.

I filled it in and made various suggestions but I've lived in this town long enough to know they'll not take a blind bit of notice - and will also crank up council tax to the maximum possible amount.
 
They've mentioned the word 'consultation' so therefore it's already been decided exactly what will be cut, what will be retained and what Preston can waste more money on.

I filled it in and made various suggestions but I've lived in this town long enough to know they'll not take a blind bit of notice - and will also crank up council tax to the maximum possible amount.
I asked last week and there had not been a flood of people taking the survey. The more that do the more chance of influencing I would hope
 
This is a naive post. Do you really think the voice of ordinary people are listened to or carry and weight. The next 20 months will see tiny pockets of funding targeted at political expedient proposals. Might seem cynical but sadly future power and influence will always dictate available monies. Get set for titbits heading north.
 
They've mentioned the word 'consultation' so therefore it's already been decided exactly what will be cut, what will be retained and what Preston can waste more money on.

I filled it in and made various suggestions but I've lived in this town long enough to know they'll not take a blind bit of notice - and will also crank up council tax to the maximum possible amount.
The budget certainly hasn't been decided yet, Preston might well have decided what he wants to cut and get rid of, but if it stays as it is, I very much doubt he will get his budget passed, I certainly won't vote for it as it is.
 
Not a chance are people going to sieve through all that jargon and not a chance are the council going to take anyone's views into account.
 
The budget certainly hasn't been decided yet, Preston might well have decided what he wants to cut and get rid of, but if it stays as it is, I very much doubt he will get his budget passed, I certainly won't vote for it as it is.
Didn't you say that 83% of (possibly the current?) budget was spent on vulnerable groups or have I misunderstood that? If so that seems an almost obscenely large amount leaving just 17% for everything else. I'd be happy if I have indeed mis-remembered.

EDIT: It was spent on Children and Adult care (possibly the same as vulnerable groups) but it was 83%. Staggering.
 
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Also remember that peoples jobs are on the line here and many community facilities like library and hubs are on the line. Also very important services for all really.
There is no jargon in 11 page survey.Just a series of budget point by point to say you agree or disagree. In effect about 20-30 multiple choice answers.
It took me 15/20 mins but that is cos I chose to to do a lot of writing. You don't have to do any writing.
These cuts will impact everyone living and/or working in Middlesbrough so I would say it is well worth spending the time on the survey.
 
Didn't you say that 83% of (possibly the current?) budget was spent on vulnerable groups or have I misunderstood that? If so that seems an almost obscenely large amount leaving just 17% for everything else. I'd be happy if I have indeed mis-remembered.

EDIT: It was spent on Children and Adult care (possibly the same as vulnerable groups) but it was 83%. Staggering.
Yes in Middlesbrough 83% of the whole council budget is spent on Adult and children's social care departments.
 
Didn't you say that 83% of (possibly the current?) budget was spent on vulnerable groups or have I misunderstood that? If so that seems an almost obscenely large amount leaving just 17% for everything else. I'd be happy if I have indeed mis-remembered.

EDIT: It was spent on Children and Adult care (possibly the same as vulnerable groups) but it was 83%. Staggering.
40% of kids in Middlesbrough are living in poverty.
 
It costs approx. £6,000 a week for every child in the care of Middlesbrough, that's over £300k a year each, we only need an extra half doz put into care and that adds almost £2m to the children's care budget, we don't get paid per child from the government, we have to make our budget fit, we have more children in care per population than almost every council in the country. It's a massive problem and we can only thank the council officers who manage to keep things working for as long as it has, but we are now at the very limit of our possibilities.

This makes this coming budget the most important in decades.
 
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