The word ‘uncertainty’ has probably been used more than any other this year as we continue to face uncertain rises in inflation, energy prices and the uncertainty that comes with impacts of international conflict.

As leader of Huntingdonshire District Council, the challenges we face because of some of these issues have also led to uncertainty with our finances, which is why we have started to plan for the future with this in mind.

Like all councils across the country, we are facing financial challenges and need to find ways to save money or generate income as rising costs and inflation along with cuts in government grants mean we could have a £3 million gap in our finances.

We have inherited a difficult forward financial position that means we must continue to work hard on cost savings to ensure we have a sustainable Medium-Term Financial Strategy - known as the MTFS.

We are required to run a balanced budget so there are going to be some very difficult decisions ahead of us and we may be forced to scale our ambitions to meet our purse, which seems fair and appropriate given the challenges many people are facing.

The joint administration has placed ‘working together’ as the overarching principle for the district council. Central to this, is communicating regularly with residents, meaningfully engaging with them in the widest possible aspects of our work and listening and responding to concerns in shaping policies and priorities. 

That’s why we are inviting residents across the district to take part in a survey and have their say on local services as we look to plan and prioritise services that are important to people given rising costs and financial pressures.

As well as gathering opinion on how well services are run, the survey seeks to understand how important some of our services are to people and whether they feel they receive value for money.

We will then use the information to inform our budget setting process as it works to develop proposals for 2023/24 and beyond. 

From parks and open spaces to bin collections and planning, we are responsible for delivering a vast range of services in the community. We only get to keep 7p of every £1 of council tax collected but also receive money via fees and charges, and other sources which enable us to maintain our statutory services.

With increasing uncertainty ahead, I would like to reassure you that we are doing everything we can to find new ways of saving money and generating income, whilst aiming to protect the services you rely on most while providing value for money. The survey, which is open until November 30, can be found across our social media accounts and on the Huntingdonshire District Council website.