Tough choices

Thank you to everyone who came along to the Tough Choices public meeting at the Bromley Civic Centre on Wednesday 23 November 2011. Your comments gave us a helpful insight into what matters most to you as we address some of the future budgetary challenges. Topics covered included:

Resources

• Government capping of the Council Tax.
• Levels of Funding received from Central Government
• Requesting Bromley MP Bob Neill to making representations to government regarding the low level of grant funding Bromley receives.
• Expanding shared services with other London boroughs and maintaining control
• Investigating opportunities for joint procurement with neighbouring boroughs.
• Funding for projects in other authorities
• Using council reserves to prevent some cuts
• Controlling expenditure
• Selling and renting out Bromley owned property
• Recovery of losses sustained in the Icelandic banks collapse.
• Making further efficiency savings including frontline services.

Sustainability and environment

• Raising costs of residents parking permits
• Raising car parking costs
• Sharing incineration costs with other boroughs
• Only carrying out essential maintenance work.

Young people's services

• Concerns about how budget cuts resulting from the academy programme will affect council services
• Maintaining the Bromley Youth Music Trust.
• Concerns at cutting the number of childrens' centres form 18 to 6.
• Supporting private pre-schools and day nurseries
• Reduction in school crossing patrols.

Recreation and renewal

• Maintaining the facilities at Norman Park
• Ensuring safety in parks
• Regeneration to bring new business into the Borough
• How the Bromley South development is being funded
• Ensuring that costs to support any trusts are kept to a minimum

Further consultation

The Leader invited further thoughts or comments to be sent to him at leader@bromley.gov.uk

The meeting ended at 9.12 pm