<p>Here at Telford &amp; Wrekin Council, January is also the time of the year when our thoughts turn towards next year’s budget and our proposals are out. </p> <p>In brief we are proposing to freeze Council Tax for the next two years - invest in tackling youth unemployment and through our Pride in Our Community initiative improving the borough’s environment, including regeneration initiatives targeting town and district centres across the borough as well as investing in improving in roads on estates and district centres. </p> <p>We would like to have your views on our proposals and there are number of ways you can do this: </p> <ul> <li>Through a budget survey questionnaire in this month’s Your Voice or <a title="visit the budget page" href="/budget">online</a></li> <li>At the special budget consultation event at the Oakengates Theatre at 6pm on 29 January</li> <li>Email to <a href="mailto:yourviewsmatter@telford.gov.uk">yourviewsmatter@telford.gov.uk</a></li> <li>Call with your budget comments on 01952 382131</li> <li>Text your comments to 07797873893</li> <li><a title="view the telford and wrekins facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/telfordwrekin">Facebook</a></li> <li>Twitter @telfordwrekin</li> </ul> <p>The consultation is open until February 4, so please give us your views. </p> <p>Last week, I went to London with Cllr Bill McClements and officers to meet the Local Government Minister Brandon Lewis. We lobbied on three specific issues: </p> <ol> <li>The underfunding of our adult social care by our local Clinical Commissioning Group for continuing health care. <br /></li> <li>Abuse by some charities of their status to install Wi-Fi systems in empty offices or industrial units and then claim business rate exemption. <br /></li> <li>Business rate appeals. Since last year we get to keep 49% of business rates, however there are a number of ongoing appeals and if some or any of those appeals are successful and the refund is back dated by years, then we are liable for the whole of the refund. It’s effectively passing on the bill for a problem that could go back years which the Council has had nothing to do with.</li> </ol> <p>On all of these issues the Minister kindly promised to look into them. </p> <p>Finally in mid September 2013 I, together with the other group leaders on the Council, wrote to the Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt campaigning for full 24 hour A&amp;E at the PRH to be maintained.&nbsp;Last week, I finally received an acknowledgement of that letter. I will keep you updated on any further details from Mr Hunt when I receive these! </p>
