Watch the Big Conversation video and tell us what services are important to you

As part of its Big Conversation, Shropshire Council has today (Monday 14 December 2015) released an animated video encouraging residents to get involved and tell us what council services are important to you.

The video, produced by the council and posted on YouTube, illustrates the financial challenges Shropshire Council faces over the next few years. The Big Conversation video also explains how the council is funded, how its budget is spent, and asks Shropshire residents what they can do to help Shropshire Council’s £77 million budget deficit.

Shropshire Council’s Big Conversation comes in light of continuous Government cuts which, in five years’ time, will leave only one quarter of the current funding that pays for over 150 services. This is a reduction of 75% from the £100m the council currently spends on these services, and means it will have to stop delivering some services.

Claire Wild, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for the Big Conversation, said:

“Like all public services, we face spending cuts in the coming years and we’re looking at ways to address this challenge.

“We’ve already had a great response to our Big Conversation with over 1,700 people taking part in the survey so far. However, we still want to ensure all local people have the opportunity to share their views, and urge those not yet involved to watch our video and take part in our survey.”

Watch the £77m budget challenge video now to find out more about the Big Conversation and how you can get involved.

The Big Conversation survey will run until Monday 4 January 2016, and will be followed by further conversations with local people, partners, community organisations and businesses across Shropshire in 2016.

Since the conversation began, over a third of residents who’ve taken part in the surveys have expressed an interest to be involved in further conversations with the council.

If you know someone who does not have access to a computer, you can either print a copy off for them, or you can pick a paper copy up from your local library or customer service point. Alternatively you can call us and request one, or complete the survey over the phone.

For more information and to get involved visit:

shropshire.gov.uk/bigconversation,
follow us: @shropcouncil #Shropbc
email:BigConversation@shropshire.gov.uk
call: 0345 678 9077 (weekdays from 9am to 5pm)