Cuts Hit Proper Scrutiny

2.52.51pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 5th Jun 2007

Budget restrictions at County Hall are now beginning to prevent proper scrutiny of Council services. Councillors were today told that reviews that had been planned were not able to go ahead until more resources are available.

One review that is "on hold" is one on "Cycling to Work", which the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee wanted to start last year. Cllr Roz Smith, the Lib Dem representative on the all-party Cycling to Work review group said, "I am very disappointed that nothing has so far happened on the review. Everyone was very keen and I had even asked via the Oxford Mail for contributions from the public last December."

Cllr Zoé Patrick, Leader of the Opposition, said, "We are very concerned that reviews are being held up by lack of resources. Scrutiny reviews are a vital part of the Council looking hard at its services to see how it can improve. I cannot see how we can have confidence in the Council when councillors of all parties are increasingly unable to review Council services by the overall squeeze on resources. That is not value for money - it is entrenching a complacent and increasingly secretive system."