Public asked for views on missing highways cash

The people of Cumbria are being asked for their views on how the County Council should deal with the £5.5m reduction in Government grant for highways maintenance next year. View are being sought through adverts in local newspapers via the Council's website and through the County's Citizens Panel. The results will be reported to the Council's Cabinet when it meets on 4th February 2003 who will then make a recommendation to the annual Budget meeting of the County Council, which meets later that month on the 20th. 

Council Leader Rex Toft explains: 

"It looks entirely likely that the County Council share of the Council Tax will have to rise by a minimum of around 10%, even if we don't put any of the lost £5.5m back into the budget. We want to know whether or not the public are prepared to pay an even higher rise of Council Tax to protect all or some of that highways work. 

The state of our roads, the repairs of potholes, the lighting of streets and regular maintenance is one issue that Councillors are always contacted about by local people. We know it is one of the most important services that this Council provides which is why a reduction of around a quarter in our Government grant is potentially so damaging. 

I appreciate to that we are working to a very tight timescale to be in a position to make a final decision at the annual Council meeting in February, but the views of the people of this County are important and I would encourage them to let us know what they think." 

Mike Ash, Deputy Leader of the Council adds: 

"The issue of highways funding has quickly become the major issue of this year's budget. In developing our plans we have taken account of a whole range of other pressures in Education and Social Services and have followed the Government's spending suggestions. However the impact of the Government's grant settlement is that we simply don't have the cash to continue highways spending at current levels unless local tax payers fund it. 

No one likes recommending high Council Tax increases. But we really don't have any choice unless we dramatically cut services. That is something that we simply do not feel is acceptable. The issue remains should we increase Council Tax even more to put back the money that the Government has taken away from us." 

Adverts appear later this week in the following newspapers and include a tear off slip which can be returned to a freepost address. The Adverts appear in 

• Whitehaven News and North West Evening Mail on Thursday 16 January 
• The Cumberland News, West Cumberland times and Star and Westmorland Gazette on Friday 17 January 
• The Cumberland and Westmorland Herald on Saturday 18 January.      

The public have until the 24 January to make their views in order that the Council can look at the results and report them to the Cabinet meeting on 4 February. In addition copies of the adverts will appear on the County Council's website and comments can be made electronically. The Council will also consult with the 3,200 members of Cumbria's Citizens Panel and the results of that consultation will similarly be reported to Cabinet on 4 February.