ADULT social care is heading for a crisis, if it is not already there.

Pressures are growing on children’s social care with more children and families needing protection and support.

The County Council has been starved of funds from Government and unless a solution is found, will have to make even more, even more unpalatable, cuts to services in the next budget in February 2018.

In this context, surely the possible replacement of all six local authorities with one countywide unitary which is expected, by three separate reputable independent reports, to save upwards of £20m a year, should be seen as an opportunity, not a threat?

The latest proposals for a Better Oxfordshire, endorsed by all three main political parties on the County Council, describe the benefits that could accrue. The concerns expressed by Oxford City are being addressed – Oxford would have its own local council and be able to make local decisions, having both budget and powers to do so. The details need to be worked out – but the City is refusing to come to the table to discuss them.

Transport, housing sites and planning would be determined by the 120-strong unitary council, making for more joined-up and better planned developments. Outside Oxford there would be perhaps 12-15 new Area Boards based around the market towns able to make their own local decisions too with their own local budgets. Each current county division would have two elected unitary councillors, able to help local people and respond to local needs.

By refusing to discuss with the County Council, South Oxfordshire and the Vale, the City Council is ignoring the benefits that would come to those in need of social care within its boundaries. The suggested ‘Combined Authority’ model would add two extra layers, one the ‘combined authority’ body, two the elected mayor and his or her supporting administration, on top of the existing two-tier system and inevitably cost more, not less, to run.

JEAN FOOKS

Liberal Democrat city councillor for Summertown and county councillor for Wolvercote and Summertown