Around 600 people responded to Borough of Poole’s request to help them set this year’s budget, and 70 per cent said fees and charges should be raised.

Now the council is again asking residents to take part in its web-based budget simulator tool, as it continues to juggle with reduced government funding.

The tool allows residents to see how much the council spends on local services and suggest ways to save five per cent on its budget.

Feedback from last year’s simulator and a series of workshops with local residents and businesses helped to guide the council in reducing this year’s budget by 10 per cent.

The online tool shows the cost of council services and allows residents to say how much they would raise or lower income from council fees and charges to support the cost of local services.

Based on their choices residents can also see what impact their decisions would have on council tax bills.

In 2010 residents’ priorities included street cleaning, children and young people’s social care, community safety, public transport and housing.

“We will have less money to pay for local services next year so it is very important the council listens to the views of residents when it comes to making decisions about how our budget is spent,” said Cllr Elaine Atkinson, council leader.

“The simulator allows residents to see the impact of the savings we must make on our budget, and lets them say how they think we should make them.

“Everyone uses council services in some shape or form, so we want to hear from people across Poole about their priorities before deciding where the savings should be made.”

The budget simulator can be found on boroughofpoole.com and consultation closes on August 15.