A CASH-STRAPPED council is to ask the public for money saving ideas.

The public consultation in Burnley aims to find ways of maintaining services without increasing spending by £5 million.

Burnley Council has been capped for for six years and had to make savings in some areas to maintain services in others.

Although capping is set to be lifted, new controls on finances are expected to be introduced.

The council's financial future over the next five years has been outlined to members of the policy committee and will be subject of a seminar on September 8 in the town hall.

The council is looking into a seven-point plan to make savings by changing the way the council operates.

"But that would only save about £2.5 million and the same amount again is needed to maintain existing services over the five-year period.

Chief Executive Roger Ellis said: "Unless we make fairly stringent savings, the council tax will go through the roof.

"We want to make sure the money goes as far as possible and that is why we are looking at the financial position now. If we look ahead we will hopefully avoid major cuts or rises in council tax."

Council leader Coun Stuart Caddy said: "Top of the agenda now is public consultation . If we are not successful in getting more revenue into Burnley from central Government then we will be faced with the prophesies in the report.

"We need to know what the people want and once we know that we can look at what money is available and how best to use it."

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