TODAY marks the beginning of major public service cuts across Oxfordshire.

Councils across the county have agreed cuts set to bite from the start of the new financial year today.

The cuts, being imposed over the next four years, follow reductions in Government cash support.

Oxfordshire County Council, the biggest local authority in the county, will cut £119m over four years from its £1bn-a-year budget. Though final details across all service areas have yet to be agreed, cuts already announced include £13m from transport, 1,000 job losses and fewer care home placements for OAPs.

Only the fire service, managed by the authority, and child protection workers will escape the axe.

Controversial plans to remove all funding from 20 out of 43 libraries to save £2m over four years are going back to the drawing board after an outcry.

But Conservative-controlled County Hall is pressing ahead with plans to cut funding from 20 youth centres to save £4.2m.

Spokesman Marcus Mabberley said: “Oxfordshire County Council began responsibly planning for change as early as June 2009.

“It became clear to the council after the global financial crisis of 2008 that national debt levels would lead to central government undertaking a huge retrenchment in public finances.”

A staff pay freeze and cut in management posts was already saving cash, it said.

Liberal Democrat group leader Zoe Patrick said: “Cuts can take place from today but it is hard to find out where, when and how soon.

“There are several millions of pounds of savings proposed on care for the elderly and my worry is that it is only when people try to use the service that they will find out it has been cut.”

She said: “There have been some very vociferous campaigners on behalf of the libraries but we have not heard so much about the youth service being cut.”

Labour-controlled Oxford City Council will cut £9m over four years.

Changes include higher charges for sports pitches and burial plots and closing the pest control service. Some 110 jobs will go.