People are being encouraged to make their voices heard as the city council decides how to deal with a £3.7m shortfall in its next annual budget.

City Hall spends around £109m each year on providing vital services but has seen its main sources of income - council tax, business rates and government grants - continue to fall in recent years.

This led to £13.1m being found to meet the shortfall in the past five years, with £6.2m trimmed for 2023-24 but without council bosses having to dip into reserve funds.

Norwich Evening News: Mike Stonard, leader of the council, said these are really difficult timesMike Stonard, leader of the council, said these are really difficult times (Image: Newsquest)

The budget proposals for 2024-25 aim to "bridge the gap" again but the Labour-controlled city council hopes it can continue "to deliver the best we possibly can for our amazing city" while making that £3.7m adjustment.

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Last year the council still invested £36m in council housing and an additional £3.1m was set aside to invest in environmental services and public spaces.

However, grants totalling just £280,000 were awarded to arts and cultural organisations around the city.

Norwich Evening News: The city council needs to find ways to meet a shortfall of £3.7 million this yearThe city council needs to find ways to meet a shortfall of £3.7 million this year (Image: Newsquest)

Mike Stonard, leader of the council, said: "These are really difficult times for local councils when it comes to setting a balanced budget.

"And this is why we want as many people as possible to fill in the survey for our 2024-25 budget proposals as it will help identify what people’s priorities are on the services we provide.

"Any difficult decisions that we may have to make about future service delivery will be better informed once we have the full knowledge and understanding about what’s really important to people."

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The council added this year's survey, which people can access on its website, is based around five key areas.

Norwich Evening News: People will be able to take a survey to voice their opinion on the council's budget proposalsPeople will be able to take a survey to voice their opinion on the council's budget proposals (Image: PA)

A spokesman said these are: "Continuing to deliver the savings that were agreed in the 2023-24 budget and medium-term financial strategy.

"Collecting all money that is owed to the council in the most efficient way possible. Ensuring we charge the right amount of money for our services, so it covers the cost of providing them and includes inflationary increases.

"Managing the properties that we own to the best effect including maximising income generation [and] use the money we have in the bank in a way that helps us generate more money."

The consultation will close on January 15 and the results will be published in February.