Details of Oxfordshire County Council’s budget savings consultation for 2016/17
As government reduces funding to local government, the county council has to continue to make budget savings. At the same time demand for our services is increasing, partly due to our ageing and growing population, and increasing demand for children’s social care services is going up.
The council has already saved – or has plans to save – a total of £292 million between 2010/11 and 2017/18. We now think we will need to save up to £50 million more in the four years between 2016/17 and 2019/20.
As a result the council will have to make some tough decisions. Some county council services will be reduced and some may stop altogether. The services left will be targeted at those who really depend on them – particularly children at risk of abuse and neglect, and adults who cannot look after themselves.
How to take part in the consultation
Please take the time to read through the consultation document and savings options (PDF, 68Kb) and feedback your thoughts in the context of the budget limitations the council is facing. You can comment on any or all of them. You can also give us your views on our overall priorities, Council Tax levels and the council’s budget in general.
Comments close on 30th November.
Savings options
Read savings options and comment on them using the links below. You can give your views on any or all of them.
- Adult Social Care
- Children, Education and Families
- Corporate Services
- Environment and Economy
- Fire and Rescue and Trading Standards
- Libraries & Cultural Services
Council Tax levels
Another way to protect frontline services is to raise Council Tax levels. How different increases in Council Tax would affect bills and lead to savings – give your views.
General comments
We are also seeking feedback on the overall purpose and priorities for the council and inviting general comments on the council’s savings options. Have your say.
Come to a public meeting
Find out more and share your views with the Leader of the Council. These events are free and open to all, but we anticipate that there will be a high demand for spaces at these meetings.
We are asking everyone to register in advance so we can manage numbers. All the meetings are from 7–8.30pm.
Tuesday 27 October
County Hall
New Road
Oxford
Monday 2 November
Town Hall
Bridge Street
Banbury
Thursday 5 November
The Regal Centre
9 St Martin’s Street
Wallingford
Respond on paper
You will also be able to pick up a copy of the consultation document at your local library or at a county council office shortly after 20 October.
What will happen to the consultation results?
All the feedback we receive will be collated and summarised and sent to the performance scrutiny committee when it considers the budget options on 17 December 2015.
All the feedback will be taken into account by Cabinet when it considers its budget proposals on 26 January 2016 and by all councillors at Councilwhen it meets to sets its budget on 16 February 2016.