Residents are being encouraged to have their say on how council budget cuts should be achieved.

Cambridgeshire County Council has commissioned ‘You Choose’, a county-wide survey, to ask residents where they would like them to invest and save money.

The council has to make about £39 million of savings next year - this follows savings of £42 million last year and £32 million this financial year.

Residents will get their say through an online consultation and face-to-face surveys.

The consultation, which runs until November 30, is set up to appear as a budget simulator, allowing residents to show the county council what decisions they would make regarding Council Tax levels and individual service levels and budgets.

It means residents will deal with similar choices and pressures to those councillors face when trying to balance the budget.

Councillor Martin Curtis, Leader of the county council said: “Councils across the land have some hard decisions to make and we want Cambridgeshire residents to have a big say in ours.

“You Choose puts residents at the heart of the decision making, having to face the challenges we do to balance the budget.

“No decisions have bean made at this point, but like last year, the suggestions and priorities indicated by residents will help shape the budget.

“The county council services are very wide-ranging and touch everyone’s lives. From looking after young people and adults during vulnerable periods in their lives to maintaining the County’s roads and recycling rubbish.

“But with less money from Government and increasing demographic and inflation pressures we have to find millions of pounds in savings while delivering front line services.”

If you can’t complete the web survey at http://www.youchoose.yougov.com/Cambridgeshire comments about the council’s priorities or ideas for delivering services more efficiently can be sent to: Research & Performance Team: Budget Consultation, SH1306 Shire Hall, Castle Hill, Cambridge, CB3 0AP