ABERDEEN City Council has received 3179 responses at the close of the first phase of a public consultation that will help shape spending decisions at the authority’s annual budget next year.
The total figure is expected to be higher as a number of paper submissions are still being validated.
The results will be published in the Medium Term Financial Strategy report for Full Council on August 23 and will help Elected Members as they prepare for and decide how to the allocate funds for the financial year 2024/25 and beyond.
Phase 1, which ran throughout July, asked people to award points across different service areas to indicate where they thought the council’s spending priorities should be.
For those not online at home, the consultation could be accessed from devices at city libraries and the Customer Service Centre at Marischal College. Paper copies were also made available.
Councillor Alex McLellan, Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, said: “I am pleased so many people across Aberdeen have taken the opportunity to engage with the first phase of the consultation, taking the opportunity to highlight their priorities for the city.
““The next phase of the consultation will outline officer proposals for balancing Aberdeen City Council’s budget for 24/25 – allowing for a much greater level of public engagement on the options presented ahead of Councillors setting the budget next year.”
The Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy will be reported to Full Council on August 23 and will set out the estimated position for the years 2024/25 to 2027/28.
The Plan will be the basis for Phase 2 of the consultation, which will give people the chance to explore options for producing a balanced budget, including finding necessary savings and the level of council tax they would like to see in the coming years.
