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Introduction

Shropshire Council is facing significant financial challenges.

Our costs continue to rise, while income is not keeping pace with the cost of delivering essential services. As a result, we declared a financial emergency on 10 September 2025.

To address this, we must make substantial changes to increase income and reduce spending so that we can operate within our budget. These changes will need to continue in future years, and many difficult decisions lie ahead.

If we do not act now to implement these changes, meet the statutory recommendations from our External Auditor, and deliver our Improvement Plan, Central Government may step in. This would mean that decisions affecting local services would be taken away from local people. We are working hard to avoid this situation. We are also working to keep borrowing to a minimum where possible and we are continuing to lobby Government for additional funding to support the residents of Shropshire.

What could this mean?

· Possible short- and long-term reductions in services and service levels
· Increases in a range of fees and charges

Your views are vital. We need to understand what matters most to you.

You can read more within our background paper available as part of the budget consultation here: Get Involved - Shropshire Council Consultation Portal

Thanks for taking the time to complete this survey. The feedback you provide will support councillors and officers with the development of budget proposals for 2026/27.
Managing Demand and Finding Savings

We want to use online solutions that improve services for you and reduce costs. We know some people like to help themselves online, but others need to have contact with our staff. The more people we can help online, the more time we have for those who need our direct help.

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* 1. How confident are you at completing the following online tasks?

  Not at all confident Lacking some confidence Neither confident or lacking confidence Confident Very confident
Finding information online e.g. website searches
Making payments online
Completing on-line application forms and bookings
Uploading documents/ emails/ attachments online.
Video calling for online meetings/appointments
Web chat and online discussion forums.

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* 2. To what extent are you able to use a computer, tablet or your smart phone when using council services?

Contacting the council online reduces demand on the phone and face to face. This frees up staff members to assist those who are unable to use online services.

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* 3. Which device do you usually use to access the internet?

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* 4. Would you be interested in accessing local support services or training to help improve your computer skills and learn how to use online services?

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* 5. Overall, how satisfied have you been with any Shropshire Council online services you have used?

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* 6. Do you have any comments to make (including any improvements would you like to see) that would enhance your online experience with the Council?​

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* 7. Do you support any of these ideas for the council saving money or managing demand?

  Support Oppose Don't know/ no opinion
Doing more work with other organisations to ensure that the right services are delivered to the right people, in the right places.
Review services we provide to external organisations (for example services provided to schools).
Review use of capital (often money we receive from selling assets or new developments) to best support local communities. This will include Community Infrastructure Levy (a charge a developer pays when building new housing).
Review planning and housing policies to focus on providing many more homes for Shropshire residents.
Reducing some services to a basic level and only providing the services we must legally deliver.
Charging for those services that the council can choose to provide (discretionary) or can choose how they are delivered (e.g. leisure and library services).

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* 8. Do you support any of these approaches that can be used to further change the way Shropshire Council purchases services?

  Support Oppose Don't know/ no opinion
Make better use of our own in-house expertise, where appropriate.
Continue to review the services we purchase to ensure that we achieve value for money.
Providing early support to help reduce demand for services and/or improve health later in life.
Encourage all council suppliers and residents to reduce their carbon footprint.

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