Ian Hudspeth: 'We cannot ignore £100m savings from councils shake-up'

TURKEYS don’t vote for Christmas.

That was how a letter writer to the Oxford Mail described local politicians’ approach to changing local government in Oxfordshire.

He meant that no council leader would want to see their own council abolished to be replaced by a wholly new structure – even if that new structure was better and more efficient.

In my case, your correspondent could not be more wrong – I’m counting down to Christmas!

To remind readers, the question here is whether it would be better to have fewer councils in Oxfordshire instead of the current two-tier structure of one county council with five city and district councils.

Two reports were published last month looking at the financial impact of reform.

One was by the county council and the other by the five districts. Both showed that we could save over £100m over five years with one council for Oxfordshire instead of the current six.

Three councils covering the north, the south and Oxford city would also save money but not as much.

The Oxford Mail letter writer clearly believes that politicians are thinking about their own futures rather than the taxpayer.

As far as I am concerned the local government reorganisation debate is not about me or my job.

• The Oxford Mail's front page on August 18 about the refusal of council leaders to discuss a cost-cutting reorganisation. 

Under any new structure all politicians would have to stand for elections to a brand new council.

Nobody will be guaranteed a seat, let alone the position of leader.

Some people say there will never be agreement and that we should forget the idea of re-organising and stick with the status quo.

Others, including me, continue to argue for change in order to deliver better services and reduce costs.

With demand for council services rising, we can’t turn our back on more than £100m and I am committed to finding a way to make those savings.

Every pound saved is a pound not spent on multiple council bureaucracies that can be used to improve services.

This is surely what the public want and expect?

Council leaders in Oxfordshire have a great opportunity to put the interests of residents and service users first.

• Cuts to council budgets have led to controversial proposals in recent years, such closing children's centres across Oxfordshire.

Not one but two firms of local government experts say change would be better than the status quo.

If we miss this opportunity, we will all be judged harshly by the public.

I know that finance isn’t the only thing to consider.

Any new council must be set up to meet the different needs of all Oxfordshire communities and be locally accountable, working closely with local groups such as parish and town councils who are the bedrock of our communities.

They have told us they want a greater say in decisions affecting their communities. They should have it.

There is no doubt that changing the way local government works in Oxfordshire would be a big decision.

That’s why county councillors will have a chance to discuss the options at a cross-party scrutiny committee meeting next week.

District councillors are also holding debates in their own meetings, including Cherwell earlier this week.

I will listen carefully to points raised in all of those debates.

It will be hard to reach an agreement and may not be possible, but I think we as politicians have a responsibility to try harder.

I hope that members of our scrutiny committee will conclude that saving the most money to protect services should be our number one priority.

I believe that’s what residents rightly expect and it is what I am committed to trying to deliver.

Christmas is three months away and, as ever, turkeys can’t vote.

However politicians in Oxfordshire have the opportunity to save more than £100m over five years.

That is something I personally would vote for.

Why not ask your local councillor where they stand?