26 Sep 2012

Stockport Council has developed an online tool that will give residents a chance to see the type of decisions councillors will have to make to deliver a balanced budget for 2013/14.

Over the next two years, the Council will have to make savings of over £24million. The Council has provided a Budget Simulator so that residents can create their own budget to allow them to see the challenges faced in setting a Council budget when trying to make savings.

Councillor Sue Derbyshire, Leader of Stockport Council, said: “We looked at various ways to help the public understand the size of the challenge and the difficult decisions we will have to take. The budget simulator allows people to increase or decrease service budgets in order to achieve an overall saving. The simulator is a way of explaining to the public what the challenges are, and the potential consequences of changes to funding for different services.”

The Simulator will be used throughout the year, at various locations and engage a number of different groups such as businesses and stakeholders, as well as residents via libraries and the Council website.

To complete the Budget Simulator visit www.stockport.gov.uk/budgetsimulator