by Emma Grove

Residents are invited to go along as Swale council’s budget proposals are considered by the scrutiny committee.

The budget proposals for the next financial year, recently went before the council’s executive and will be considered by the committee on Thursday, January 14, at 7pm at Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne.

The council’s two scrutiny panels, which look at budget and performance and the policy development process, will be looking at the decisions which have been made and asking questions.

Throughout the year, the panels carry out reviews with the aim of improving services for the community and to help develop the council’s policies.

All executive portfolio holders will be present or represented at the meeting and the council’s management team and heads of service will be there.

Council leader Cllr Andrew Bowles said: "This is a very important part of the democratic process.

"These proposals have not been put forward lightly and it is right that this cross-party committee delves deeper to ensure that there is a consensus on the best way forward for the council in the current economic climate."

Swale council announced at the beginning of December that it needs to make £5m of cuts over the next three years. For more on this, click here.