CAMBRIDGESHIRE County Council will be giving Fenland people an early chance to have their say on how the authority sets its budget for next year. Top Councillors have started to prepare their priorities and budget in advance of the announcement of Governm

CAMBRIDGESHIRE County Council will be giving Fenland people an early chance to have their say on how the authority sets its budget for next year.

Top Councillors have started to prepare their priorities and budget in advance of the announcement of Government funding which will be made towards the end of the year - the eventual budget will cover the period April 1, 2008, to March 31, 2009.

Balancing the budget is always difficult, particularly as the Government fails year on year to give local government in Cambridgeshire enough funding to meet the cost of providing services to the fastest-growing community in the country.

So to gain public opinion, the county council has organised seven priority roadshows at which the people can have their say.

In Fenland, roadshows will be staged on Wisbech Market Place, on Thursday, October 11, and in Whittlesey Market Place, on Friday, October 19.

County council leader Councillor Shona Johnstone said: "Each autumn, as the county council begins to prepare its budget for the year ahead, it asks for the views of the public on what its priorities should be. This year is no different and the county council wants to ensure that the public's priorities are our priorities.

"I hope as many people as possible will tell us what they want - it's up to them 'their services, their choice.'

"Do people want better public transport or more cycleways? Better services for older people or more youth clubs? Better recycling schemes or more books in libraries? Better services for people with disabilities or more recycling schemes?"

All the roadshows will run from 10am-4pm each day.