Welwyn Hatfield residents decide how money is spent

RESIDENTS across the borough are set to decide how next year's budget is to be spent.

In a new move by Welwyn Hatfield Council, people in the borough will be able to select their priorities for the next financial year.

Deputy council leader Alan Franey said: "It's really important that we hear from residents.

"How the budget is spent depends on a number of factors and the needs of local people are vitally important, so we would like people to give us their views."

In this financial year 2009/10 more than �107m was spent on day-to-day services, of which �8m was raised from council tax.

The council only keeps 13 per cent of the total tax collected, which on average, per household, is �197 a year or 54p a day.

The remainder goes to the county council, police and in some cases town and parish councils too.

For the last three years the borough council's top priority was to keep council tax increases at less than the rate of inflation.

Whether you agree with the current policy or not, have your say by filling in the questionnaire online at www.welhat.gov.uk

As an incentive those completing the surveys will be entered into a prize draw to win free tickets to either Campus West cinema or Rollercity for a year.