Selby district councillors and officers are asking the public for advice on a strategy for coping with four more years of spending cuts.

The newly-elected council has set up an online survey on its website asking council taxpayers what their priorities are and outlining ways they can get involved in helping their district.

Councillors and officers will also give details of their overall strategy to residents at five community engagement forums starting today at Riley Smith Hall in Tadcaster.

Council leader Coun Mark Crane, said: “It’s tough at the moment. We face unprecedented reductions in Government funding. In response, we’re made some major changes to the way we work. So this plan must be seen in the context of the challenges we face. “We’ve tried to be realistic by looking at how much resource we have and what we truly believe we can deliver.

“This isn’t a pipedream to be put to one side and forgotten about – this will set the tone for what we do over the next four years.”

Other community engagement forums will be held tomorrow at Monk Fryston Parish School; Barlow Social Club on Wednesday, July 13; Carlton Village Hall on Thursday, July 14; and Ryther Village Hall on Wednesday, July 20. All the meetings start at 6.30pm.

The five priority areas the authority will concentrate on are: fighting the residents’ corner and getting everyone working together; giving the district a different public profile; making Selby district a place where people live happy and healthy lives; tackling difficult problems, and being aware of what is happening around Selby area and ensuring the council is fit for purpose.

“We’re approaching this in a totally new way,” said Coun Crane.

“We want to get people interested, to get people to take part in this process, so we’re presenting our plans in a brand new style, something different from what’s gone before.”

The online survey includes more details of the authority’s approach.