RESIDENTS are being asked how East Lothian Council should spend its £212m budget – as the cash-strapped local authority seeks to find further savings of £4.5m in 2015/16 to balance the books.

The council has already identified and planned for £3.4m of ‘efficiencies’ for 2015/16 but says it still needs to make £4.5m more.

It says that public spending cuts mean that the amount of money it has to help pay for local services is likely to continue to reduce.

The local authority has already saved about £17m since 2012 – through initiatives such as its staff Voluntary Early Release Scheme (VERS).

On top of the £8m efficiences required for 2015/16, the council has predicted that it will have to save a further £6.4m in 2016/17 and a whopping £10m from the 2017/18 budget.

It is now asking the public and interested groups to set out their own spending priorities – and suggest where savings could be made ahead of next year’s budget setting process.

A ‘Spending Choices’ budget consultation document has been published, with the local authority asking for the county’s feelings and comments on the possibility of: - More staff cuts; - A rise in council taxes; - Reduced council services and/or the closure of some council facilities; - Higher council charges; and - Looking at private firms to run certain council services.

A total of £5.7 million of efficiencies have been identified and planned within the budget over the next two years, with £3.4 million during 2015/16 and the remainder coming the following year.

Councillor Willie Innes, council leader, acknowledged times were tough.

He said: “There is no doubt that we will have to be extremely careful with our resources next year, which is why it is so important that people take part in the consultation.

“We’re hoping to get feedback from our partners, the third sector, local businesses, communities, interest groups and individuals.

“Please, give us your views and ideas about what you want to see in the council’s budget for next year.” Consultation on ‘Spending Choices’ runs until December 15 with the budget set at a special meeting in February.

One of the most controversial ways of increasing income to the local authority would be to increase council tax.

Councillor Stuart Currie, SNP Group leader on East Lothian Council, said his party did not support a rise in council tax.

He said there needed to be greater working in partnership with local authorities like Midlothian Council.

He said: “The point of that is whatever budget passes in February should be capable of being delivered; that is the important thing.

“In terms of savings, we want to work with other councils to protect frontline services and it means savings elsewhere in the council.” More than 45 per cent of the council’s costs come from employing its 4,700 members of staff.

Copies of the consultation paper are available from libraries or council offices, via the council website, or by phoning 01620 827827. Or log on to: eastlothianconsulations.co.uk