TIME is running out for Hartlepool residents to have their input on the borough council’s budget proposals as it grapples with cuts in government funding.

Over the next three years the council has estimated it will have to find savings of between £17.1m and £21.6m, in addition to the £19.5m which it has had to save over the last three years.

Local residents have been encouraged to attend meetings of the five main policy committees where spending plans for the next year were discussed and from those meetings a detailed set of budget proposals has been drawn up by the finance and policy committee.

Before those proposals are presented to the full council for final approval early in the New Year, people are being urged to come along to one of two Neighbourhood Forum meetings next week to hear more about the proposals and have a final say on them.

The meetings are both on Wednesday (December 11) in Committee Room B in Hartlepool Civic Centre in Victoria Road and the times are: North and Coastal Neighbourhood Forum at 10am and the South and Central Neighbourhood Forum at 2pm.

Council leader Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher said: “In drawing up these proposals we have done our very best to protect frontline services and support families across Hartlepool who are facing severe hardship whilst also doing whatever we can to encourage the future economic regeneration of the town.”

Following the presentation there will be an opportunity for the public to put questions to Councillor Akers-Belcher and the other four main policy committee chairs.