To seek cabinet approval for consulting on plans to reshape the council’s services to meet the financial challenge and current budget proposals for future financial years, as well as the draft proposals available to Herefordshire Council as part of the budget setting process for 2017/18 and out to 2020/21.

A report seeking approval for consulting on plans to reshape the council’s services to meet the financial challenge and current budget proposals for future financial years, as well as the draft proposals available to Herefordshire Council as part of the budget setting process for 2017/18 and out to 2020/21 was received.

The director for economy communities and corporate said that the consultation process would take place over the summer and autumn.  It was proposed that targeted groups in an on-line consultation.  Stakeholder engagement would be widely sought, and parish councils, businesses and partner organisations would be approached as part of the consultation process.

In the ensuing discussion, the following points were made:

·      That the consultation would be more focused than it had been in previous years, and it was important to remember that it was not merely a question of the number of respondents.  Two thousand responses had been received in 2015, which was higher than in the previous year.  Engagement with organisations was important and the quality of responses from this source would help judge the success of the consultation.

In response to a question from a Group Leader, the director for economy, communities and corporate said that whilst the top 25 businesses in the county would be targeted, smaller and medium sized enterprises would be engaged through a number of business breakfasts. 

Resolved: That the approach for consulting on plans to meet the financial challenges for the coming 4 years and beyond and the capital programme and budget proposals for 2017/18 and beyond as set out in the report be approved.