A county council survey asking residents to help shape their budget has been branded a “sham” by a Labour campaign group who claim it is “pitting essential services against each other” in a “disturbingly crass” move.

Bucks Labour says the budget consultation that the county council wants residents to take part in is “not fit for purpose” and has urged them to rethink.

The survey – which is running until Sunday, November 19 – highlights how budget pressures means BCC needs to “change” how they provide some services and wants people to help them shape their priorities before a draft budget is drawn up.

It asks participants to decide which services deserve more, less, or the same amount of money but the survey is open to anyone.

However, the campaign group says the county council is essentially asking residents what services should be cut and raised concerns that there is no way of confirming that people who are actually taking part in the consultation are even from Bucks.

Alexa Collins, chair of Bucks Labour, said: “It’s an attempt to pull a fast one on residents ahead of the budget next year. It’s a tick box exercise, not a proper consultation. And – for something as important as this – we certainly deserve a proper consultation.

“What makes things even worse is the nature of what is being asked. The council are deliberately pitting our essential services against each other. They are asking if we would rather cut funding for vulnerable children or vulnerable adults, or spend less on health or education – with the abiding implication that by farming out this impossible choice, it will then somehow give the council the authority to slash services next year.”

Cabinet member for community engagement and public health, Noel Brown said: “We really have had a great response to our budget consultation. From the responses so far, the top items of concern focus on the care of vulnerable children and adults as well as the need to improve our roads and pavements.”