The consultation - which ends on 7 August - asks for residents’ views on council tax proposals, services that should be prioritised and why, and ideas for cost savings and income generation.
The setting of that budget is once again a challenging process. The estimated budget gap is £81 million and with some of the authority’s reserves having been used to reinforce recent years’ budgets, further tough choices will need to be considered.
Significant spending demands and cost increases, largely for the most vulnerable residents in the areas of adult and children’s social care and home to school transport, continue to squeeze the budget.
The Government requires local authorities to deliver a balanced budget, which means planned spending must be managed within funding available.
The priority is to make the most efficient use of taxpayers’ money while focusing on protecting vital services to the most vulnerable people in Kent.
Jennifer Sutton of the Wave Community Bank says her bank offers Kent people who are struggling with their finances the chance to get back on their feet.
The organisers of the Christmas Kick off event in Tunbridge Wells last Saturday say that record numbers of people came to the town for all the attractions.
The Conservative Kevin Maskell has been elected leader of Sevenoaks District Council after the previous Conservative leader lost a vote of no confidence last month.