ABOUT £50million could be cut from services in Essex next year as the council asks: “What are you prepared to lose?”

Essex County Council is already having to find £300million of savings in four years by changing the way it works, selling property and laying off staff.

But services will also have to be cut as the Government plans for public sector savings in the region of 35 to 40 per cent.

The council has produced a budget calculator – available at essex.gov.uk/budgetmaker – to show how it is spending money this year, and to give people the chance to work out where they would make cuts for next year.

The council has also launched a Facebook discussion group this week so people can have their say.

Peter Martin, leader of Essex County Council, said: “Although we are elected by the people of Essex to make these decisions, we recognise we are accountable to the people.

“It is important we should ask them what they think we should be spending their money on and listen to what they say.”

The council had a budget of £2.2billion for 2010/11, but will not have as much in 2011/12.

At the same time, it may need to provide even more services, if the Government’s draft localism Bill, which would transfer some responsibilities from central to local government, becomes law.

Mr Martin said: “We need to achieve more for less and be more efficient, finding better ways of doing things.”

He promised everyone would have to share in the cuts. This included considering members’ allowances, salaries for senior staff and the £40,000 spent on the council’s restaurant.

He said: “It may be the right thing to do, but it is not going to take much out.

“We want people’s views on members and top salaries, but it is a very small part of £2.2billion.”

Initial indications from residents who have already filled in the budget-maker show the road network, schools, the environment and recycling are areas where the public want to see spending protected.

But money spent on making sure customers are satisfied, community engagement and council publications should go.

Mr Martin has been in discussions with colleagues, but said the council wants to hear what the public have to say first.

Personally, he wants to make sure the most vulnerable members of society, from children in care to the elderly, are not forgotten.

One of the biggest savings the council is hoping to make would involve making a far greater use of the voluntary sector, and helping charities and other organisations to take on some of the responsibilities currently carried out by Essex County Council.

Mr Martin said this was all part of David Cameron’s Big Society idea. But whatever savings are made, the council still does not have enough money, so jobs will be lost and property sold.

Mr Martin said: “We are a people business and most of our expenditure is on people, so there will be an effect on jobs. It is too early to say where and how many will lose their jobs.”

Selling 25 per cent of council-owned property would only be done if it fetched a reasonable price as “it can only be sold once”.

Log on to www.facebook.com/pages/Chelmsford-United- Kingdom/Essex-County-Council/121416117123 to take part in the discussion on savings.