Schedule for scrutinising council budget announced

The budget scrutiny select committee inquiry meetings are all taking place at County Hall.

Meetings on Tuesday December 16 and from January 6 to 8 will cover the areas of health and wellbeing, the leader of the council, finance and resources, community engagement, planning and environment, transportation, the capital programme, children’s services and education and skills.

All meetings will be webcast via the council’s website.

Inquiry chairman David Shakespeare said, “Our task is to fully scrutinise and challenge the cabinet proposals to spend nearly £330m of public money next year. “In today’s tough financial climate, it’s vital that every pound is spent wisely and gives good value for money.

“The inquiry’s task is to hold individual cabinet members to account for their plans and to ensure this is achieved on behalf of all council tax payers in Buckinghamshire.

“People are welcome to attend the inquiry meetings or watch the meetings as they happen via the webcast.”

The inquiry’s detailed findings will be presented to cabinet on February 9, with the final budget set to be agreed by the full council at its meeting on February 12.