THERE will be no rethink on the county’s budget, Mr Hudspeth vowed last night.

He also refused to rule out further cuts in the future.

The county council needs to save £119m over four years but it is on track and has already cut some £51.3m.

Mr Hudspeth said: “There will be no radical change because I am a Conservative and I signed up to the budget this year and was part of the process.”

But, with the country currently fearing the effects of a ‘double-dip recession’, Mr Hudspeth said: “We will have to wait to see if the Government makes changes to the formulation of how they provide funding for us. Until we know the details of that, we are not really in a position to say.

“We are on track to deliver the savings that we need to over the four year period.

“But it is tight at the moment and if there has got to be other savings we will have to see where our priorities lie.”

Mr Hudspeth said he would not change from former leader Keith Mitchell’s priorities and would continue to ring-fence the fire service and children’s services from the cuts.