Join the Rossendale Savings Challenge

Date published: 29 July 2010

Help us make every penny count’ is the message from Rossendale Council as it launches a borough wide Savings Challenge.

The Savings Challenge has been launched in response the Government announcing that the amount spent on delivering public services will have to be reduced by around 25% in order to reduce the amount of national debt.

People who live in Rossendale will be invited to put forward suggestions for ways in which the Council can save money and which services they most value.

Approximately half of Rossendale Council’s £11m revenue budget is provided by the Government. 

Launching the Saving Challenge, Rossendale Council Leader Tony Swain said:

 “Rossendale Council provides more than 100 services from cleaning the streets and emptying the bins to food safety, parks, leisure and benefit administration. There are about 200 staff working for the Council and we work in partnership with other organisations to improve the quality life in the valley.”

 “We have taken a long hard look at the Council’s finances and believe that over the next three years the Council will need to save around £2.1m – this is nearly 20% of the amount of money the Council spends.

 “This will be a big challenge and is not one that Councillors alone can make. Local people must be given the chance to say which services are most important to them, make suggestions for ways in which the Council can save money or change the way it works and help us to make every penny count.”

 “The Savings Challenge is an open invitation to contribute to the Council’s on-going drive to deliver better value services, helping us to rethink the services we provide. We want people to help us find those savings so we reduce spending in a way that is fair and responsible.”

 Local people can register their views and ideas at the Savings Challenge Website at www.rossendale.gov.uk/makeeverypennycount or complete a form at the library or the One Stop Shop.

 Ideas can be small-scale, but quick and easy to put into action or more radical, creative and imaginative, involving significant changes to how the Council works.

 All ideas and suggestions will be considered and the best ones will be considered as part of the budget consultation process later in the year as Rossendale Council develops its budget and reshapes services.