Public services in Surrey “have to change” according to the county council leadership, which is asking residents for feedback on its plan for the next 12 years.

A consultation has been launched into the Draft Vision for Surrey by 2030, aimed at finding out what residents care about the most.

Council leader David Hodge said: “I have always been clear that residents have to be at the heart of everything we do here at Surrey County Council.

“I have made no secret that we are facing huge challenges when it comes to providing residents with the services and support they need.”

The consultation asks respondents to give various ambitions scores from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree”, and then for the three most important.

So in one question respondents will have to choose which three of these ambitions they think are most important:

  • Children and young people to be safe and feel safe, healthy and make good choices about their wellbeing
  • Young people to be equipped with the confidence and skills to succeed in life
  • People to live healthy, active and fulfilling lives, independently in their local community with choice and control
  • People to access the right health and social care at the right time in the right place, and
  • People to access information and services to help prevent, reduce and delay the need for care and support.

Cllr Hodge mentioned the cost-cutting and “efficiencies” made during his time as leader, but the council needs to make £250million of savings in the next three years.

A report by council officers from when the draft plan was discussed at council in May made it clear some services might have to re-commissioned or cut entirely.

Cllr Hodge said: “This challenge is set to get tougher and tougher in the years to come. We know the needs of Surrey residents are changing.

“More people are using public services than ever before. People are living longer, and that’s great, but their needs are more complex now.

“At the same time, we have a duty to help the Surrey economy grow, to help local businesses thrive, to provide people young and old with the skills to find the work they want and to create the opportunities for them to live healthy and fulfilling lives in our beautiful county.

“The truth is we cannot carry on the way we have done before. We have to change.”

The consultation will run until September 3, with the 2030 vision to be agreed at a council meeting in October.