Luton Borough Council

15/10/2024 - 2024 Big Conversation – come meet the council’s decision makers

The council’s budget and prioritising your services

Luton Council’s executive and senior leadership teams will be out and about over the coming weeks to talk to residents about a range of issues and to collect feedback to help decide how the authority spends its money.

The events have been organised so the council’s most senior councillors and officers can hear views and answer questions from the public about services; and also to get views on how the council should prioritise its limited resources.

Information will also be available at the events on a wide range of services including job vacancies in the town, support services, benefits advice, public health services and more.

Everything the council does is centred around the town’s shared 2040 vision of building a healthy, fair, and sustainable town where everyone can thrive, and no one has to live in poverty.

The Luton 2040 vision needs to be delivered on limited funding and diminishing resources after £160 million has been taken out of the council’s budget from Central Government since 2010.

Due to the rising demand and increasing pressures in areas such as housing and social care, the council is required to make further savings in order to balance its budget.

The council wants to talk to residents about these challenges and collect views before difficult decisions need to be made when next year’s budget is set in February.

Councillor Hazel Simmons MBE, Leader of Luton Council, said: “Councillors are elected to serve everyone in Luton and make vital decisions that impact the lives of you and your families. It’s important we talk to you regularly so you can tell us how we are doing and let us know about areas you want us to improve or do things differently.

“The feedback we get from you will help us when we have to make difficult decisions about how we spend the council’s limited resources in the best way possible for you, your family and the town as a whole.

“So do please pop in and say hi – we look forward to chatting.”

The initial events organised are as follows:

• Sunday 20 October 2024, 11am–5pm, Luton Point

• Saturday 26 October 2024, 9am–2.30pm, Bury Park High Street and Community Centre

• Tuesday 29 October 2024, 10am–5.30pm, Luton Point

• Saturday 9 November, 8.30am–2.30pm, Inspire Luton Sports Village

If you can’t make any of the events, you can have your say online at luton.gov.uk/BigConversation. Or complete a short survey.

If you have any thoughts, ideas of suggestions regarding our budget plans for the coming year, please email us at: [email protected]