I NEVER thought I would write a letter in support of David Cameron, but in his argument with Oxfordshire County Council over spending plans, he is right.
It is true that the Government have cut the amount of support that they give to the council.
That cut is £60million, but the council’s gross expenditure for 2014 to 2015 is £1,065million, which amounts to a cut in total spending of less than six per cent, which is easily manageable.
However, if you read the council’s published accounts and spending plans for 2014 to 2017/8 you will see that they plan to cut spending by only three per cent. Additionally the accounts show that they have earmarked reserves of £111million. In short there is virtually no need on financial grounds for any draconian service cuts.
The councillors demonstrated that when they increased their own allowances by 19 per cent last December. So much for fiscal prudence.
JOHN POWER
Ferry Hinksey Road, Oxford
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