Craven District Council is asking for residents' views as it begins the process of setting its revenue budget for the 2020/21 financial year.

The council provides a range of services to residents including bin collections, housing and homelessness services, licensing and planning services, environmental health, cleaner neighbourhoods, benefits, and bereavement services.

Craven District Council also runs Skipton Town Hall and Craven Leisure, owns and manages Aireville Park, and works to support a range of community groups, local businesses and services across the district.

With continued reductions in Government funding, the Council faces significant challenges in balancing its budget, and needs to save a further £764k from its revenue budget by 2022/2023. At least £408k of this will need to be saved in 2020/21.

The budget consultation begins on Wednesday October 23 and will run for six weeks, until Wednesday December 4.

Craven District Council leader, Councillor Richard Foster, said: "For just over £3 per week, per household, we provide a vast range of services to residents here in Craven.

“We collect your bins, clean your streets, support economic growth in the district, help local community groups and businesses, develop affordable housing, provide excellent leisure and arts facilities, and much, much more.

“In the last year, we’ve completed the development of an amazing new children’s playground in Aireville Park, and started our £5 million Skipton Employment and Housing Growth Project. We’ve started our £4.5 million transformation of Skipton Town Hall. We’re supporting a £2 million project to upgrade canal towpaths through Craven. We’ve created a Joint Venture Company to deliver regeneration and development in the district. We are achieving all this whilst acting to reduce our impact on the environment.

“Setting a balanced budget is always a challenge but we are determined to continue to provide excellent services for our residents. As in previous years, we have some difficult decisions to make, as the Government has cut our Revenue Support Grant to zero from 2020/21.

"So we need to hear from our residents – we want your views on how we spend your money, and how we could make savings. We want to understand your top priorities, and what you want from your council in the future.”

To find out more go to the council's website www.cravendc.gov.uk/yourmoneyyoursay

From here residents can find out more about the council's budget, the challenges faced, and how to have their say - including details on how to access the online survey.

Residents who don't have access to the internet can:

• pick up a hard copy of the Budget Consultation document and survey from Craven District Council Offices at 1 Belle Vue Square; Skipton Tourist Information Centre; Craven Leisure; or Settle Tourist Information Centre;
• pick up hard copies from libraries in Craven
• write to the council at Budget Survey, Craven District Council, 1 Belle Vue Square, Broughton Road, Skipton, BD23 1FJ; or
• email comments to budget@cravendc.gov.uk

The consultation will close at midnight on Wednesday December 4, so residents are asked to respond by this date. For further information please contact 01756 700600 or email budget@cravendc.gov.uk