MORE than 4,000 people have taken part in Exeter City Council's 'Stronger Exeter' budget consultation.

Council Leader Pete Edwards said he was overwhelmed by the response from the public.

"We have got some very tough decisions to make over the coming months so it is good to know that people in the city are getting involved and making their voices heard," he said.

The City Council launched the consultation in October, revealing that it had to save a further £4 million over the next three years.

People were asked to complete four surveys under the headings of Parks and Public Spaces, Helping People, Cultural City and Safer City.

Now the Council will look at all the responses and will present detailed budget proposals in the Spring.

Cllr Edwards added: "We want to find out what services are most important to the people of Exeter at a time of deepening public spending cuts."

The City Council’s grant from central government shrunk from £12 million in 2011-12 to £7.7 million in the current financial year. Now it is bracing itself for further reductions, to around £5 million, by 2017-18.

So far the Council has managed to preserve frontline services by making efficiency savings – but it is warning that this will no longer be possible in the coming years as more savings have to be found.

Areas which could be affected by cuts in services include public toilets, street cleaning and city centre CCTV coverage.

The Stronger Exeter initiative seeks to inform the tough decisions councillors will have to make when it comes to setting the authority’s budget for next year and beyond.

The City Council has already made savings of £4.7 million since April 2012.