A major consultation exercise has recently started on the Council’s Business Plan and Budget for the period covering the financial years 2012/13 to 2015/6. While the overall financial environment for the coming few years is much the same as it was a year ago there have been some significant changes in the priorities for spend at the Council.

Most significant of these changes is that following a legal judgement preventing the Council making changes to eligibility to adult social care without further consultation the Council has decided not to go ahead with those changes. This will be welcome by those receiving this care and their families but does mean that extra savings have to be made elsewhere. Working out exactly where, is a key issue for this consultation exercise.

There is a 34 page document which covers the key areas in some detail. This is available here BCC_Budget_Public_Consultation_12_Oct_11[1][1]

You can respond to the consultation in the following ways:

• By filling out an online survey at www.birminghm.gov.uk/budgetviews
• By emailing to budget_views@birmingham.gov.uk
• By text message to: 07786 200 403 (see p12 in the document above)
• By writing to Budget Views, Room B119, The Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham B1 1BB