COUNCIL chiefs have revealed details of a wide-ranging consultation process that will help shape tough decisions on future spending cuts.

Darlington Borough Council, which has to make savings of £14m over the next three years, is holding a series of consultation events throughout the coming weeks, which will then be brought together in one by debate in July.

Council leader Bill Dixon said: “Every single service the council currently provides will be affected in some way by the cuts we face in Government funding to the council – whether it is reduced or simply cut altogether.

“Before councillors decide which services should be cut and which will be reduced, we are asking the people of Darlington which services they value the most.”

Members of the public are urged to make their opinions heard during a series of panel-led discussions on the different service areas.

All meetings will take place in the Dolphin Centre’s Central Hall. Each panel covers different areas of the council’s services and each panel will meet twice.

The meetings will take place between 6pm and 8pm and the arrangements are as follows:

• Panel one – covering adult social care, housing, leisure and culture, will meet on Monday, June 17 and Wednesday, July 3;

• Panel two – covering children’s services and highways and design, will be held on Tuesday, June 18 and Thursday, July 4;

• Panel three – covering environmental services, senior management, councillors and corporate costs, will be held on Tuesday, June 25 and Monday, July 8;

• Panel four – covering support services, public health and place policy and regeneration, will take place on Wednesday, June 26 and Wednesday, July 10.

Ideas raised at these meetings will be brought forward into a single ‘big debate’, at the same location, on Saturday, July 20, from 9am to 1pm.

After the consultation process is completed, it is hoped a clearer picture will emerge of what cuts will need to be made and when.

Previous rounds of spending cuts have led to the closure of the much-loved Darlington Arts Centre.

People planning to attend the consultation events are asked to give 14 days’ notice, so any necessary arrangements can be made.

Call 01325-388457 or email communities@darlington.gov.uk