Your chance to quiz the chiefs

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council leader Councillor Andrew Finney and chief executive Tony Curtis will be holding two public meetings so they can talk face-to-face with residents about the issues that matter most to them.

The sessions will take place:
- Tonight at the Gill Nethercott Centre, Winchester Street, Whitchurch, from 6pm until 8pm.

- Monday, December 7 at the Civic Offices, London Road, Basingstoke from 6pm until 8pm.

The meetings have been organised as the council starts consulting on its draft council plan, which outlines its priorities for the future and the actions the council proposes to take to achieve them.

At the moment, the Conservative-led administration is proposing to increase the local level of council tax by two per cent.

Cllr Finney and Mr Curtis have said they are both keen to hear what residents think of the council plan, and how they think money should be spent in their area.

Cllr Finney added: “Despite falling income and cuts in Government funding, we are proposing a council tax rise equivalent to less than one penny per day for the average household borough.

“This means focusing our resources where they will make the most difference.

“We are keen to hear what residents think of these plans.”

Mr Curtis said: “We want to know if we are getting local services right – if we are focusing on what matters to residents and if we are responsive to their needs and issues.

“In the continuing national recession, the challenge is to maintain public services that meet our residents’ needs and provide value for money.”

The meet-the-chiefs sessions are one of the steps the council is taking to give Basingstoke and Deane residents the chance to have a say about services in their area.

Anyone can read the council plan and let the council know what they think of council services by visiting basingstoke.gov.uk/go/councilplan and filling in the feedback form, or by calling 01256 844844.