Liam Walker

Oxford Mail:

Chairman of Witney Conservative Future 

In 2010 Britain faced a stark choice: continue borrowing and spending money we neither had nor could afford, or reduce our deficit and spending to repair the economy.

Looking back, I’m glad the British people voted for the latter.

For years to come politicians will point the finger and apportion blame for why we were put into that position but the reality is that something needed to be done.

Britain needed to start living within its means.

The coalition had to take tough decisions to start reducing spending and most importantly our deficit.

Part of this included a plan to reduce spending of government departments in order to shrink their overall budgets.

We have seen these decisions trickle down to local government and in particular the county council and district councils across Oxfordshire.

Our councils have tightened their belts and have had to look at ways to save money.

Let’s not forget that the money which councils spend is the taxpayer’s money – our money.

From emptying our rubbish bins to repairing our roads and keeping our streets safe, these are services we pay for, and sometimes we forget that.

Everyone in local government is working hard to ensure frontline services are protected in the best way possible while also balancing the books.

Here in West Oxfordshire I know that the district council is working closely with Cotswold District Council, Forest of Dean District and Cheltenham Borough Councils to share services to ensure they get a good deal for taxpayers.

The four councils already share human resources, finance and payroll services.

This week they are going one step further and will be approving plans for £1.25m of savings through joint IT departments. This will ensure that things like free car parking, low council tax and investment in super-fast broadband all remain intact.

West Oxfordshire District Council has also launched its 2020 Vision which will extend shared services with neighbouring councils.

Although there will be structural changes as to how the councils operate, the 2020 programme is being designed so residents will not see any changes to their council and the services it runs. This can only be done through continuing to spend taxpayers’ money wisely.

There are many services across Oxfordshire which, over the past few years, have had their budgets cut or been closed. I strongly believe no councillor or politician enters into politics to close down services and cut budgets.

However, councillors and politicians have a duty to protect the vulnerable, the sick and the elderly.

I have spoken to many people over the years about services which have had to close and it’s never easy to explain why a service so important to them has closed its doors. The reality all too often is that, there is no money left.

That wasn’t just a note which the last Labour government left when leaving office, it’s the reality of the current economic climate and the challenge this Conservative government faces.

Delivering a balanced budget should be at the heart of what local councils do when making decisions about reducing waste, making efficiency savings and cutting unsustainable spending.

The county council has saved £204m since 2010 and is planning to save a further £88m by 2018.

That means making more difficult decisions on services across Oxfordshire.

As we found out this week, in a worst-case scenario the county council is anticipating having to find an additional £50m of savings.

It is clear that this will not be easy but the council must stand firm in assisting the Government’s aim of eliminating Britain’s deficit.

Here in Oxfordshire I believe that as long as we have Conservative councillors and Conservative MPs working with a Conservative government, the efficiency savings, investments and improvements to services will continue.

The key issue for the Government and local councils now is to work together to guarantee that while they reduce spending, frontline services are protected and Oxfordshire’s residents continue to live safely and happily in their homes.

I would encourage everyone to get involved in the county council consultations process.

Together we will ensure Oxfordshire continues to be a great place to live, work and do business.