THOUSANDS of people in Southampton are being urged to give their verdict on where the axe will fall in £42.3million cuts to public services in the city.

As previously reported the Southampton City Council Labour administration has launched the proposals as part of a four-year plan to balance its budgets in the face of mammoth cuts from central government.

Now they have launched a public consultation urging residents, businesses and partners to have their say on plans – which include job losses, council tax hike, fortnightly bin collections and moving more council services online.

The council has been forced to make £92.4million of cuts in the past five years – the equivalent of £1,300 per person.

But opposition politicians have condemned the proposals as “opaque” and are challenging the authority to disclose how many jobs are at risk.

The proposals include:

  • Increasing council tax by 3.99 per cent – including a two per cent rise in the Adult Social Care precept – which along with the increase in the volume of business rates in the city will save £6m.
  • Restructuring the way adult social care teams work to save up to £3.6m a year.
  • Saving £800,000 a year by introducing fortnightly bin collections.
  • Slashing £640,000 a year by moving services online.
  • Saving £7m over the period by reducing placement costs of looked after children.

Council cabinet member for resources councillor Mark Chaloner, said the authority faces a “huge financial challenge” due to government grant funding being reduced by 55 per cent and will be phased out by 2019/20 while demand for services – particularly those for vulnerable children and adults – continues to increase year-on-year.

He said: “We remain committed to protecting vulnerable people and the city’s most needed services which is why this year we are taking the opportunity to plan ahead for the next four years, allocating resources to the priorities that were developed based upon feedback from residents and businesses.

“We will continue to work hard to generate new income, improve our partnerships, make the most of digital technologies and transform the council so that we are fit for the future.

"I would urge residents, community groups, businesses and partner organisations to read and comment on the proposals to help us make the most of what we have.”

The deadline for submitting questionnaires which are available on city council website at southampton.gov.uk is January 24, 2017.

Written comments are also accepted via e-mail or letter until February 8.

A final set of proposals will be presented to cabinet on February 14, and to full council on February 15 for a final decision.