COUNCIL tax payers will be able to have their say about how Cumbria County Council should spend its money on delivering services.

All 48 of the county's libraries will be offering free internet access specifically for people wanting to fill in the online Have Your Say consultation document at cumbriacc.ning.com Printed copies of the consultation document are also being made available at libraries, Local Links and council offices so that people can comment on a range of proposals to save money and generate extra income to help deal with the massive reductions in expenditure faced by all public bodies.

The website cumbriacc.ning.com has received 2,229 visits in the first week and there were 12,328 page views. The average time spent on the site was just over five minutes. So far 190 people have joined the consultation site as active members so they can post their comments, engage in discussion forums and get updates about the process.

The consultation runs until January 31 2011 and will shape the county council's budget for 2011/12, which need to be agreed in February.

The consultation document contains background information on the anticipated level of savings needed, as well as a range of options for how the council can either reduce its expenditure or increase its income so that it can deliver a balanced budget.

It also explains the range of services the council delivers and proposals for what the council's future priorities should be and where it should focus its efforts in the coming years.

The online form and hard copies of the consultation document will also be accompanied by a series of public meetings next month to give people an opportunity to hear about the council’s proposals first hand.

A consultation event will take place at Kendal’s County Council office on January 13 2011 from 7pm to 9pm.