Stoke-on-Trent City Council Leader to answer questions relating to the 2013 Budget Online.

Web-chat to discuss budget proposals

A live online web-chat will give residents and businesses the chance to quiz the leader of the city council on this year’s budget proposals.

Councillor Mohammed Pervez will be online from 6.30pm-7.30pm on Thursday, January 17.

Residents can pose questions about the proposed budget for 2013/2014 during the session.

It is one of many ways that Stoke-on-Trent City Council has consulted with residents on the plans.

The proposals focus on maintaining services for the city’s most vulnerable people and continuing to promote economic growth through the Mandate for Change.

The recommendations include freezing council tax to support residents who are feeling the pinch as the economy continues to struggle.

Savings of £21m need to be made to manage continuing cost pressures and significant funding reductions.

Councillor Pervez said: “Maintaining the status quo is not an option. We have to make savings and inevitably we can’t please everyone. We thought long and hard when drawing up the proposals and followed guiding principles ofimproving value for money, continuing to support jobs and growth and protecting safeguarding services for the most vulnerable.

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“Our strategy for recovery remains the Mandate for Change and creating a great working city – with that in place we are in a strong position to come out of the times of austerity with a path to recovery.

“The consultation has been wide ranging, with residents able to complete anonline or paper survey, email their comments or post them on facebook. I have also met with community groups from across the city and this week cabinet members are holding a series of drop in sessions as well as my online web-chat to encourage people to tell us their views.

“The web-chat is an exciting and instantaneous way for people to ask a question and get a direct answer back. I would urge anyone who would like to know how the proposed budget would affect their lives to get in touch on Thursday.”

People can email questions in advance to budget2013@stoke.gov.uk or log ontowww.stoke.gov.uk/budgetwebchat on the night. The chat questions and answers will remain online after the event.

Councillors will meet to set the budget on February 28. The meeting is open to the public or alternatively, it can be viewed online.