IN the face of 'stark challenges', Cornwall Council is encouraging members of the public to have their say on its budget for next year and into the future.

Since 2010, the council says it has had to find savings of £170m in its budget as a result of cuts in Government funding.

With a further £40m reduction in funding expected by 2016 and £100m by 2018, the council is asking local residents, businesses and partners to discuss where cuts and savings could be made and to come up with any suggestions for increasing income.

Alex Folkes, the council's cabinet member for finance and resources, wants as many people as possible to be involved in helping to shape the council's future direction.

'We are facing some stark challenges,' he said.

'Many of our services are already under tremendous pressure to meet increasing demand with the reduced funds available to them.

'These future reductions in funding mean we have to decide where to make the necessary cuts and how.'

The council is staging a series of consultation events in each of the 19 community network areas between September 5 and October 9 and a Cornwall Budget Debate at County Hall, Truro, on October 10 which will be webcast live on the council's website at http://www.cornwall.gov.uk">www.cornwall.gov.uk

In South East Cornwall, the public meetings are:

Monday, September 9, Alexander Hall, St Blazey

n Monday, September 16, St Pinnock Village Hall, near Liskeard

Wednesday, September 25, St Germans Community Centre

Friday, September 27, Millennium House, Pensilva

The results of the consultation will be fed back to the cabinet and the council's portfolio advisory committees to consider before the budget is finalised.