From Mike Bomford, Exeter 382173, January 31, 2008

Devon residents are having their say to influence how Devon County Council allocates their new budget for 2008/09.

A series of consultation meetings across the county involving young and older people have so far indicated that the Council should make greater investment in:

• Community transport, and the specific transport needs of rural communities
• Youth work, to help prevent against youth offending
• Youth Offending Service, to help youths that are offending to become integrated back into their communities
• Caring for people in their own homes. There is general consensus that where possible, people in Devon should have the option of being cared for in their own homes
• Free school meals. People would like to see improved quality and choice
• Waste minimisation and promotion to encourage people to minimise their waste so that waste taxes can be avoided

These priorities have come from budget consultation focus group meetings in Barnstaple, Okehampton, Newton Abbot, Tiverton, and Exeter.

Representatives from the business community, voluntary sector, Trade Unions, Youth Council and Devon's new Senior Council, have all had their say.

Of less priority to people so far has been:

• Home to school transport
• Country parks
• Secondary schools
• Special schools
• Street lighting
• Residential homes for the elderly

Councillor Brian Greenslade, the Leader of the County Council said:

"The public consultation we do is just part of our efforts to involve as many residents, groups and organisations as possible in the run up to the Council setting the new budget for Devon next month.

"The consultation work is vital because, although we can't always deliver everything people want, this information is essential to help us make our decisions.

"People have the opportunity to contact us through the dedicated budget consultation pages on the Council's website. There people can also find at a glance all the relevant documentation including recent reports and news about budget setting for 2008/09."

The budget consultation pages of the County Council's website can be accessed from the home page at www.devon.gov.uk Devon residents are invited to have their say before the Council sets its budget at a meeting of its Full Council on 14^th February 2008.