RESIDENTS of Monmouthshire are being asked to suggest changes to the county’s budget as councillors look to save millions of pounds.

Monmouthshire County Council has requested that the public get involved in the budget plans for the next two years and is staging a series of public consultations.

It has outlined 23 new options including a commercial company to run cultural and tourism services, plus the offloading of public buildings, including the Drill Hall in Chepstow into community ownership.

A council spokesman said: “We need look at the way we deliver the services that make up our tourism, leisure and culture services in a new way.

“We may have to look into a new delivery model such as a trust which would operate at arm’s length from the council.

“The trust will be commercially driven via a trading company while ensuring local services are maintained and improved.

“Councillors and staff from Monmouthshire County Council are to engage with residents, businesses and organisations over shrinking public service budgets and increasing funding challenges for next year’s services.

“The council will be visiting groups and talking to communities at a number of venues in the county’s towns and villages to share ideas and receive community feedback with public meetings planned for November.

“The sessions will inform the community of the serious challenges facing the council and inform them how it plans to work with the public as well as town and community councils to try and maintain services.

“The public meetings will outline the effect of budget cuts and allow discussions on the council’s 2016/17 budget with councillors and staff.”

Meetings, which will run from 6.30pm to 8.30pm will take place on:

•Monday November 16, County Hall, Usk,and will be streamed live on YouTube so residents can watch the session live or watch the meeting later.

•Tuesday November 17, Shire Hall, Monmouth.

•Thursday November 19, Grey Hill Hall, Caldicot School.

•Wednesday November 25, The Dell Primary School, Chepstow.

There are also sessions from 10am to 12pm on:

•Tuesday November 10, Caldicot town centre.

•Thursday November 12, Chepstow town centre.

• Friday November 13, Monmouth town centre.

Live Twitter question and answer sessions will be held on November 11, 18 and 24, from 6pm to 8pm.

The council will also meet with local groups in the county leisure centres. 

The ideas formulated from the forums are available on the council website: www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/monmouthshire-engages-budget-201617 and comments can be made on the council’s social media channels: Twitter@MonmouthshireCC and the council’s Facebook page.