A council is facing a £180,000 security bill to keep watch on an old people's home it closed, writes Mark Templeton.

Oxfordshire County Council faced widespread criticism when it shut Oseney Court in Botley Road, Oxford, as part of social services cuts.

But Oxford West councillor John Power, who fought to keep the home open, said the cost of manned 24-hour patrols for the empty building was scandalous.

He said: "It's costing us £246 a day to have security in that building and it is estimated that the building will not be sold for at least two years. "What I want to know is just exactly where are the savings? We were told closing the home would save money, but all I have seen so far is costs, costs, costs."

Sean Collins, assistant county treasurer, told the social services committee that the home's closure would save the council £600,000 in staff costs. He said: "It was our intention to lease the property on a temporary basis but the city council placed restrictions which does not allow us to do that.

"Security costs were covered under the closure plans and we are still making the savings we set out to do."

The committee also heard the council had fallen behind with the £10m cuts it announced it was making to social services last year. So far, the council estimates it has cut £8m but a number of other cuts are not on target to be achieved before 2001.

These include £1m from home care services, £150,000 from training and £163,000 in administration costs.

The matter will be further discussed by the council's strategy and resources committee.

Story date: Wednesday 15 December

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