2010 Budget Consultation

Dorset County Council

Consultation with the Citizens' Panel

Dorset County Council asked its Citizens' Panel, in their twenty second survey (August 2010), questions about saving money through asset management. The questionnaire asked about value for money and how local people think the recession is going to impact on services. Results are available on the Dorset Consultation Tracker. Go to 'Dorset Citizens' Panel' on the left hand side of the tracker and then click on Dorset Citizens' Panel 22.

From 15 December 2010 to 3 January 2011 Dorset Citizens' Panel received an online survey (pdf, 70kb) (opens in a new window) , asking very specific questions about proposed changes to county council services. Responses will inform  budget decisions that impact on the wider local community (as well as specific service users) and for which we require a steer from local people on how to implement and manage proposals. For more detail on the content of this questionnaire and results when they are available, visit the Dorset Consultation Tracker. Initial results are available.

Consultation with local businesses and voluntary sector organisations

Dorset County Council has a statutory duty to consult with businesses on the budget. A  survey (pdf, 81kb) (opens in a new window)  has just been completed by local businesses (through Business Link, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Chamber of Commerce) to ask about budget priorities for certain areas of county council spend. The questionnaire contained questions on highways and transport, adult learning and connectivity and broadband. Businesses were asked for their insight into which areas of spend has the most impact on their business. Results will be collated in February 2011 and more information will be available through the Dorset Consultation Tracker. Highlight results and a  fuller analysis of business results (pdf, 1Mb) (opens in a new window)  are available.

A similar questionnaire has been sent to Dorset voluntary sector organisations via Dorset Community Action (opens in a new window) . This questionnaire remained open until 1 March 2011 and results are currently being drawn together to inform ongoing decision making.

Consultation with Town and Parish Councils

Dorset Town and Parish Councils have received a similar questionnaire to the Citizens' Panel. Initial responses will inform decisions made by the county council's cabinet on 2 February 2011. This survey remained open until 1 March 2011 and final responses are currently being drawn together to inform ongoing decision making.

West Dorset District Council

Following elections in May 2011, the new Council will publish its four-year Corporate Plan. This Plan will be underpinned by a medium-term financial strategy, heavily influenced by the reducing levels of grant that we expect to receive from central government. The draft Corporate Plan will be subject to public consultation in 2011/12.

2009 Participatory Budgeting

(Read more about Participatory Budgeting on the National Archives website (opens in a new window) )

Dorset County Council gave local people the chance to have their say in 'Dragons' Den' style events, that took place in October 2009. Residents were invited to take part through the councils' Citizens' Panel. The panel had already suggested ways in which the council could support local people through the recession and this was the basis on which they voted for the funding of five local projects. The successful project was the Citizens Advice Bureau who won £25000 of council money to fund a part-time specialist to deliver local support. In a similar style event, representatives from the local business community (in association with Business Link (opens in a new window)  ) were invited to a business breakfast to pitch for another £25000 to support local trade during the recession. Results also went on to inform the cabinet (PDF, 786kb) (opens in a new window) . Feedback, updates and information on how the events went can be found in Citizens' Panel Newsletter and were published in Your Dorset.

• Results from budget consultation

  Below are some results from the budget consultation.

• Budget Consultation for Businesses 2011

  Before setting its revenue and capital budget for 2012/13, Dorset County Council is seeking views from local business representatives on proposed spending. This consultation is undertaken as a statutory duty (under Statutory Instrument 1992 No. 3171).