IT’S that time of year again when we are considering our budget proposals for the forthcoming year – and we want to hear what you think.

The scale of the challenge we’re facing is significant, as since 2012, the size of our budget has reduced by 40 per cent. To put this into hard figures, the Revenue Support Grant we received from Central Government grant as recently as 2013/14 was £3.9million. Next year, it will be only £39,000. Therefore, we need to save half-a-million-pounds this year.

However, for the fourth consecutive year, we are not proposing any cuts to frontline services. Through our commercial activity, investment in IT and continually reviewing our services and contracts, we can generate income and make savings in a number of ways to balance our budget. We’re also asking our residents for their views in a number of areas.

And it’s very important to us to tell us where your priorities lie – and we do listen to what you have to say. Last year for example, the feedback in our budget consultation was that people were unhappy with our proposals to increase car parking charges; they were therefore not increased last year. Last year, you also gave us feedback on our kerbside recycling project and plans to upgrade our website, and your views are being incorporated into these schemes.

And speaking of recycling, in the last two weeks, we have collected the 2,000th tonne from the kerbside. It’s only taken seven months to reach this milestone, whereas in the past, it would have taken well over a year. So many thanks for your continued efforts in recycling as much as you can.

Budget-wise, it’s important to point out that although we collect council tax and business rates across the borough, it’s a common misconception that we keep it all. We only keep around 11 per cent of the council tax you pay, with the rest going to Cumbria County Council, Cumbria Constabulary and town and parish councils.

We also keep only around five per cent of the business rates, with the bulk of the remainder going to Central Government for redistribution nationally. So all in all, we deliver a great deal within the budget we have.

We value your contribution to the process and the full consultation document, along with a questionnaire, is available from our office at St George’s Road, Millom, or any of Copeland’s libraries. Alternatively, visit www.copeland.gov.uk and complete an online version. The deadline for responses is Monday, December 17.