MEMBERS of the public have been asked what they would do if they were in Exeter City Council's shoes and needed to cut its budget by £1million.

The council held a budget simulation event where people were invited to have a go at two tasks in which they decided where the council should be spending its money or making cutbacks.

The event was held in a vacant shop on the city's Fore Street on Saturday, and was attended by an estimated 100 people over four and a half hours.

Council spokesman Steve Upsher said: "We're trying to get across to people that it's a difficult job balancing the council's budget in this economic climate. We're having to make £1million of savings and some services may suffer as a result. This event gives the council a good idea of what services people would prioritise."

In the first "game", people were given 10 balls to put into the bottles where they wanted money spent. Each of the 10 bottles represented a different area of spending such as waste collection, housing or leisure. In the other, people had to make cuts to the budget by removing 10 stickers from a board covering all the departments. When a sticker was removed, it revealed one of the consequences, such as fewer mayoral events if the corporate and democratic budget was reduced. Photographs were taken of the board after each person's go, to be analysed later.

The event faced criticism from some quarters as "a gimmick" and insensitive because compulsory redundancies have not been ruled out.

Council leader Adrian Fullam dismissed the criticism. He said: "A huge number of people have virtually no awareness of the nature of the city council budget. This is a simple and easily accessible way to give people a brief overview."

A 58-year-old woman from St Thomas, who asked not to be named, said: "I wouldn't like to be the one to decide where the money goes. It's difficult. I'm a bit more understanding now of the challenges the council faces."

Ben Booth, 33, a scientist from Pennsylvania, Exeter, said: "It's interesting to learn more about what the city council does and it raises awareness of the difficult decisions that have to be made. The council needs to be open about the choices and we're having an opportunity to feed into the process. It's fantastic."

Veronica Bonnett, 67, a retired teacher from central Exeter, said it was "brilliant" the council was asking the public for its thoughts and the event had increased her understanding. She said: "I would put most of the money into education, but I was told that was a county council, not a city council, issue.

"I think street cleaning is very important so I've put two balls in that bottle, and I'll distribute the rest equally."

There is a similar budget simulation exercise on the council's website at www.exeter.gov.uk/budget2010. It is available until December 24. People's views will help to inform the council's decisions in January.