Council Budget - Lib Dem Comments on Settlement

12.00.00am GMT Tue 20th Dec 2005

Councillor Dermot Roaf, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, challenged the Conservative administration's view that the Local Government Settlement is good for Oxfordshire County Council. He said that it is certainly good for schools, but many cuts would be needed in other County Council Services - including help for children excluded from schools, libraries, the Youth Service, Trading Standards and care for older people.

Cllr Roaf said that the Conservatives had promised real choice, but cuts in the library book fund would reduce choice. They had promised real value for money, but had not identified all the efficiency savings they had promised. They could only deliver on their promise of a lower rise in Council Tax, if they broke their promise of No Cuts.