5:39pm Thursday 16th July 2009
EARLIER this month, Oxfordshire County Council announced plans to cut 500 posts as it attempts to balance the books. Here, in his own words, council leader Keith Mitchell talks about the decision.
Mr Micthell said: "Oxford Mail readers don’t need me to tell them times are getting tougher.
"We all remember the blanket news coverage of the chaos in the banking system in 2008 and the failure of financial regulation.
"We also all know about the ongoing global recession.
As a result of all that, the Government is billions of pounds in debt and will be looking for ways to recover that situation in coming months and years.
"The consequences of that will impact upon companies and organisations like Oxfordshire County Council, as well as hard-working families across the county.
We provide hundreds of key services to all of you – from educating your children, to giving you the transport systems to get to work; from giving you safer, cleaner and greener communities to live in, to caring for our older population.
"There are also many things less obvious: planning for the future of our major towns, and Oxford, building the infrastructure to make that happen, and attracting businesses to bring new jobs.
"All of this costs money. It is funded partly through the council tax Oxford Mail readers pay.
However, the majority of our money comes through our annual grant from the Government.
"We fear councils will get far less money through that grant in coming years.
"As responsible householders I am sure you all plan ahead to cope when you know that a financial blow is around the corner.
"Planning carefully, not suddenly reacting at the last minute, is the common sense way to act for big organisations such as Oxfordshire County Council as well.
"Luckily, we’re good at this. Our finances are strong, and safe, and we were recently rated as one of the best councils in Britain for the way we manage money by the Government's regulator.
"You may have seen that we have announced a drive to make 10 per cent efficiency savings across our budgets over the next five years.
"That’s £90m. It will also mean, potentially, up to 500 jobs could go at the council.
"We’ll work with the unions to make that as pain-free as we can.
"But we never forget this is your money, not ours. We want every pound to work as hard for you as possible.
That’s why we need to act now, when we can plan for this sensibly.
"We are also committed to keeping council tax down.
David Cameron has pledged, if he’s elected Prime Minister next year, to help councils with a good record of keeping tax down. I welcome that and it’s what we’re aiming to do.
"There are some who say we should abandon this pledge if it contributes to cutting costs at the council.
I disagree.
"I think that in hard times Oxford Mail readers want as much money left in their pockets, to spend how they want, as possible.
"Critics of our plan are big on objections, but have no alternative.
"Turning a blind eye to the nation’s financial realities and pretending that they will not impact on the county council and those it serves, is just playing politics with people’s lives, not acting to help them.
"So, the measures you’ve read about will do just that – give you more of your own money to spend and ensure that we are able to continue to deliver world class services, despite the recession.
"It’s the right thing to do for Oxfordshire residents and for our wonderful county, and I promise you we’ll do it, and do it well."
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