THE leader of Allerdale Council is encouraging people to have their say on next year’s budget.

Allerdale Council has begun the process of setting its budget for the 2020/21 financial year, which is due to be submitted for approval in March.

Leader Marion Fitzgerald said: “Our intention is to share all the information about what possibilities there are for next year’s budget and get as much feedback as possible.

“I’d like to urge people to take part in the consultation. We do value public opinion.

“We’ve already had a better response than in previous years and we’d like more people to get involved.”

In the next three years, the council needs to deliver savings or find alternative ways of generating income to address a funding gap of about £2.2m.

Government contributions to councils are falling and the authority is also considering how to deliver new services in the future.

For example, Mrs Fitzgerald said, the Government is introducing regulation changes, meaning councils may have to collect food waste from 2023.

A number of changes, including charges for collecting garden waste, are part of the consultation.