The consultation took place at the Council's Civic Centre in Beecroft Road, Cannock, on Tuesday evening (19th January) and saw residents working with Council directors and senior managers to assess budget options. Council Leader Cllr Neil Stanley also attended.

All residents who took part are members of the Council's Citizens' Panel, a representative sample of the District's residents who are regularly consulted for their views.

An online consultation questionnaire has also been available on the Council's website for the last few weeks for all residents and businesses to complete. All views will be presented to the Council's Cabinet as part of the process of setting the budget for 2010/11.

Feedback from residents greatly informs and influences the final budget, which will be presented to Full Council in February 2010. Detailed planning for the 2010/11 budget is already underway at the Council and consultation with residents is a vital part of this work.

The outcome of the budget consultation will be considered by the Council's ruling Cabinet at a meeting on 11th February before a final budget is presented to a meeting of the Full Council on 24th February.

Stephen Brown, Cannock Chase Council Chief Executive, said: "Setting the budget is an important time of the year for a local council and it is vital that we listen to the views of our residents.

"I would like to thank everyone who completed the online questionnaire and attended the consultation event at the Civic Centre. Your views are important to us and will be taken into consideration by the Cabinet before they present their final budget for approval next month."

For more information about becoming a member of the Council's Citizens' Panel, call 01543 462621.

Picture: Corporate director Tony McGovern, left, discusses the budget for 2010/11 with residents at the consultation event at Cannock Chase Council's Civic Centre