THE district councillor responsible for finance says the Forest council is committed to delivering high quality services for residents in the face of further cuts and rising inflation.

Councillor Richard Leppington says he expects Government cuts to the council's budget to "carry through to the coming years" as he announced a public consultation on the proposed budget for the next financial year.

The council's spending plans for 2022/23 include a saving of £50,000 by reducing its use of carbon-sourced power.

Cllr Leppington said the council hopes to improve the efficiency of the services it provides to reach its goal of saving more than £340,000.

To pay for the budget, it is proposing to raise council tax by 10p a week for a band D property.

"Over the past decade we have seen cuts to our budget, and this year is no different, especially amid rising inflation", Cllr Leppington said.

"We are expecting these Government cuts to carry through to coming years as economic recovery continues but we are committed to continuing to deliver a high quality service for our residents.

"As part of the careful management of our finances we have improved the efficiency of our services and were able to save over £569,000 last year, and are predicting to save more than £340,000 this year.

"As part of our budget plans we are proposing we continue to strive towards our goal of taking effective action in response to the climate emergency, ensuring that affordable housing is available for the people that need it most and that the services we deliver such as our street warden team continue to operate effectively."

Anyone who wants to share their views should email Chief Finance Officer Andrew Knott at [email protected] before January 28.