Residents are being asked to have their say on how Cambridgeshire County Council should spend next year's budget expected to fall short of £28m. 

Around 1,100 residents have already been approached in an independent doorstep survey, with more hoped to take part. 

The survey comes after the county council is needing to find extra income and savings of £28m, an increase on the £17m rise the authority thought it would face. 

“We need to produce a budget which is sustainable so that we can deliver on our ambition to create a greener, fairer and more caring Cambridgeshire,” said Cllr Lucy Nethsingha, leader of Cambridgeshire County Council. 

“We also want to continue to make changes to the way we work – improving the environment, bringing services closer to people, and helping residents and communities to recover from the effects of Covid-19.  

“But we can only consider investments if we can first balance our budget.” 

Ely Standard: Details of where Cambridgeshire County Council's budget for the current financial year was spent.Details of where Cambridgeshire County Council's budget for the current financial year was spent. (Image: Cambridgeshire County Council)

A rise in inflation, the energy crisis and the impact of Covid on incomes and how many people need extra financial help are some of the issues the county council are said to be dealing with. 

Last month, Tom Kelly, CCC’s service director for finance and procurement at Cambridgeshire County Council, said inflation alone had “doubled the funding gap”. 

He added that the next budgeting round will be “extremely difficult” and that there would be “serious and significant financial challenges” to come. 

Cllr Elisa Meschini, the county council’s deputy leader, has also admitted balancing next year’s budget will not be an easy task. 

“It is a challenge which is not just facing household budgets, but also councils up and down the country,” she said. 

“We [have] already called on the chancellor to recognise this, otherwise it will only further impact the most vulnerable people in Cambridgeshire.” 

Cllr Meschini added: “I would invite everyone to take part in the survey, whether online or if a researcher calls on them, so we can consider a range of views as we set the budget.” 

The survey closes on Sunday, December 11. 

For more information on the survey and to take part, visit: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/council/finance-and-budget/business-plans.