City of York Council is launching the next stage of its city-wide consultation over the budget for the forthcoming council year, 2003/2004, which includes a proposed £2.3m boost for services.

Officers and councillors have already started looking at specific options for the council's new budget and these will be discussed in a series of public committee meetings which are being staged in the week beginning Monday, January 13.

The discussions and public feedback will be considered when the council determines its specific priorities for the new council year and meets to decide the level of the city's council tax at key meetings on Thursday, January 30 and on Thursday, February 20.

The latest consultation follows the government's decision to allow the council to spend £11m more next year - a rise of 7.3 per cent with a total £154m budget.

However, the government's figures would mean funding some of the increase from a council tax rise of 11.6 per cent - £90 a year on the average bill. But residents have already told the council in earlier consultations that such an increase is unacceptable even though this would still leave York's council tax well below average.

Officers are now suggesting savings of £2.7m to help keep the council tax as low as possible and to fund £2.3m in vital service improvements. The savings will also help remedy some of the problems in the education budget where unavoidable rises in wages and pensions, inflation and pupil numbers exceed the 4.3 per cent increased funding from the government.

The council's annual residents' opinion poll has already been used to gauge general views on the budget - with people asking the council to peg any rise in the council tax to six per cent but also for service improvements which would demand more funding than that without savings. Ward committee meetings also discussed general budget principles in October and November.

The latest consultation will help residents give their views and features a survey of residents on the council's 1250-strong 'people's' Talkabout panel, meetings with representatives of the business community and the city's 'Without Walls' local strategic partnership.

Most local ward committee meetings are also being held this month where budget issues will be listed for discussion.

Leader of the council Councillor Dave Merrett said, "We want to continue to involve people in the budget process as far as is practicable. We are working towards keeping the increase in York's council tax below the six per cent maximum figure that was indicated in our residents' opinion poll by funding limited improvements through savings elsewhere.

"Our message to residents is that we want to hear your views about your priorities and the suggested trade offs on the key budget decisions we will have to make over the next few weeks."

The public meetings of executive members and cross-party advisory panels will be held at the Guildhall to discuss different aspects of the budget. All advisory panel meetings are followed by a meeting of the appropriate executive member.

The details for these are: Monday, January 13 - Transport and Corporate and Financial (both beginning at 5pm. Tuesday, January 14 - Community, Economic Development and Commercial Services, 3.30pm Wednesday, January 15- Social Services, 6.30pm Thursday, January 16 - Education and Leisure and Heritage (both 5pm) and Housing, 6pm. Friday, January 17 - Planning and Environment, 4pm. Information about these meetings is available five working days in advance by telephoning 01904 551088. Anyone wishing to speak at one of the meetings must register to do so by 10am the day before the meeting by telephoning 01904 551088.

Anyone seeking information on ward committee meetings should telephone 01904 551026 or look on the council's website. Details of the Talkabout survey questions will also be posted on the council's website. Residents are also getting a separate chance to comment on the budget for police services across North Yorkshire when the North Yorkshire Police Authority's roadshow is staged in York at the Novotel, Fishergate, at 7.30pm on Wednesday, January 22. Part of the council tax goes directly towards policing in York - approximately ten per cent of an average bill. This amount is set by the police authority not by the council and budget suggestions for raising this element of the council tax by between 35 and 74 percent are under consideration by the police authority.

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