Views sought over Sandwell Council cuts

Officials say the authority is fighting continuing reductions in government grants which will force it to review services.

More than 200 jobs have been axed during the last 18 months at the authority which is currently trying to save up to £40 million.

It launched its Facing the Future programme last year to find £22m of savings and this has been extended to achieve cuts of £38m by 2018.

Sandwell Council has launched a budget planning survey asking people to tell them where they think money should be spent and how services could be improved.

Residents are also being asked to choose their priorities from different levels of council services - allocating points to their preferred options.

Sandwell Council deputy leader, councillor Steve Eling, people living in the borough must have a say on the services.

"This is an exercise so we can thoroughly review our medium-term financial strategy," he said.

"It is all the more important now with the levels of cuts that are being imposed by government. Our budget has already been reduced by £132 million since 2010 but there are more cuts to make.

"We want residents to tell us what their priorities for services are and if they want them to improve, continue as they are or reduce to better suit their needs.

"This is a valuable component of the budget exercise as we are constantly looking at what we can spend so we can continue to provide our residents with the services they want and need.

"If we know what gets priority over what this will help us plan our future budget strategy around these priorities."

Council bosses have already revealed plans to bring in extra cash including introducing car parking charges at Sandwell Valley for the first time for visitors to the country park and farms.

The move will generate £200,000 which will be used to fund the upkeep of the site and new attractions, including a restaurant.

The survey will see 250 face-to-face interviews carried out across a representative sample of the population of the borough.

Residents have until November 23 to give their views.

The budget planning survey is available online at www.sandwell.gov.uk/consultation

Officials say it is completely confidential and takes around 15 minutes to complete.