From Mike Bomford, Exeter 382173, January 21, 2008

The Leader of Devon County Council is encouraging Devon residents to have their say on how the Council's new budget for 2008/09 will be allocated.

The public consultation is just part of the Council's 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.

Already, Cllr Brian Greenslade, Leader of the County Council, and other Members and officers have met with representatives from the business community, and organisations that champion the causes of older people, as well the voluntary sector and Trade Unions.

There has also been a series of budget consultation meetings with residents' focus groups in Barnstaple, Okehampton, Newton Abbot, Tiverton and Exeter.

Young and old are having their say. Representatives from Devon's new Senior Council - a non-party political body independent of the County Council - and Devon's Youth Council have already given their views to help the Council set its budget.

Budget consultation is a year-round task for the County Council. Whether it is countywide surveys delivered to thousands of households across Devon or regular consultation with focus groups around the county, the Council believes public consultation is a vital part of developing policies and services that touch the lives of people throughout the county.

Cllr Greenslade said:

"We have been asking people to tell us how they think the County Council should be investing its budget. The consultation work we're doing is vital in ensuring that the new budget is targeting the same priorities as those of people in Devon.

"We haven't received final confirmation of how much grant we will get from the Government this coming year, that should come shortly, but once we have that confirmation we will know the size of our new budget for 2008/09.

"In the run up, 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 seen with a link from the home page at www.devon.gov.uk