DEVON County Council will be bringing its 'Tough Choices' public consultation to Tavistock next week where local people will get the opportunity to help shape the authority's spending next year.

Residents will be able to put their views across on how money should be spent to county councillors, including leader of the council John Hart, at the meeting at 6.30pm on November 8 in Tavistock Town Hall.

Tavistock is one of 17 market towns across the county where 'Tough Choices' meetings will be held and people are being urged to go along and take part.

Councillors are likely to have to save £40-million from their spending next year following the £54.6-million reductions they made this year.

Last year the top public priorities for continued or additional funding were protecting children from abuse, home care for the elderly, support for people who care for others and supporting children with special needs.

The services most identified for savings were street lighting, tourism promotion and public transport subsidies.

Cash was increased in social care budgets, all 43 children's centres were kept open and there were no cuts to children's safeguarding and children in care budgets. Some 18,000 street lights were converted to part-time lighting.

This year the county council has streamlined its administration by merging departments, had a job freeze and frozen allowances. But around £30-million will still need to be found from local services.

Devon county councillor for Tavistock Debo Sellis said in an article in the Times in September that this was a real opportunity for local democracy.

'If anyone has any burning issues please come along to the meeting — you will be listened to.'