Consultation for local people and organisations to have their say on Weymouth & Portland Borough Council’s 2013/14 budget proposals ended on 20 January.

Results from the consultation will be reported to councillors who will debate the 2013/14 budget at Management Committee on 5 February and then ultimately set the budget at Full Council on 21 February.

The consultation also aims to identify impacts of the proposals and ways to manage them as well as potential alternatives and ideas.

Budget proposals were approved for public consultation at the council’s Management Committee on 4 December and cover a spread of council services.

They outline how the council aims to deal with the serious reduction in the amount of money it receives and has to spend – estimated to be at least £3.9 million a year less by 2019/20.

Councillors will also discuss proposals submitted for running Weymouth Pavilion at the Management Committee on 5 February.

This meeting will now be held in the larger Guildhall instead of Committee Room 1 at the council’s North Quay offices.

Cllr Peter Chapman, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council Briefholder for Finance and Assets said:

“Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete a questionnaire about the budget proposals.

“The results will help inform councillors’ decisions along with lots of other factors that need to be considered by the Management Committee and Full Council in February.”

The consultation included a public questionnaire available online, in paper form at the council’s North Quay reception or by post on request.

The council also held a consultation event with the chamber of commerce and issued a separate questionnaire for businesses to complete.

The council also consulted groups like the Forum for Equality and Diversity and Weymouth and Portland residents who are members of Dorset County Council’s citizens’ panel.

More information about the budget process, including the Management Committee report outlining service areas included in the proposals, can be found at www.dorsetforyou.com/weymouthandportlandbudget<http://www.dorsetforyou.com/weymouthandportlandbudget

Details of committee meetings, including agendas and reports, can be found at http://www.dorsetforyou.com/committees/weymouthandportland

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