Have Your Say

Ashford residents have taken up the chance to decide how Ashford Borough Council should spend their money in one of the biggest consultations the council has carried out.

Close to 1500 people responded to the council’s Have Your Say survey which gave local people the opportunity to tell the council what services they want to see prioritised in the future.

Council Chief Executive John Bunnett has proposed a five year business plan which aims to reduce costs, establish new priorities and lay out how the council will deliver services in the future

He explains, “Local people’s views are key to developing the business plan and we genuinely want to hear what people think. We want to concentrate on what local people see as their priorities rather than central government ones.

“We wanted local people to tell us what services are important to them and where they want the council to focus their finances. We wantedt o know if there are services they would be prepared to pay extra for and services they don’t rate as a priority.

“Despite being rated the 12^th most efficient council in England we have got to find even more efficient ways to deliver services to local people. Like all local council’s we are facing tough times ahead with further cuts in government funding expecting in the future.

The results of the survey are now being analyised by an external market research company and will help the council decide what services it will focus on in the future and how these might be delivered.

Look out for news on the survey result on our website and in Ashford Voice the council's residnet's magazine.

Prize draw winners

First prize - Apple MacBook

Catherine Taylor from Singleton

Ten runners up - iPod Nano

Yoland Barker, Singleton

Edward Locket, Ashford

Emily Neighbour, Ashford

Sheila Fordham, Smeeth

Sarah Cheeseman, Ashford

Julia Wallace, Ashford

David Herrick, Brabourne Lees

Diane Bloodworth, Kennington

Cliff Raggett, High Halden

Heather Blanshard, Kennington