Oxfordshire council wants views on where to cut £91m

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-24210397

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Oxfordshire County Council is asking residents which public services they could accept cuts to as it tries to save £91m over the next four years.

It had been thought the authority would need to save £30m, however, that figure was recently increased by £61m after a government grant forecast.

The government said everyone had to help pay off the "inherited deficit".

Councillor Ian Hudspeth said one option would be for the council to start charging for currently-free services.

Five public meetings will be held across Oxfordshire during in October.

'Immensely difficult'

Leading councillors and officers will be present to explain the council's financial position, answer questions and hear the views of residents.

Mr Hudspeth, who is leader of the Conservative-led council, said: "It is important that we hear from residents about the services they value most and which ones they could live without.

"We also want to talk about charging for services or raising income in other ways.

"After years of reducing budgets, finding further savings will be immensely difficult."

He said the council would continue to try to reduce its "back-office costs" by shutting under-used offices and possibly contracting private companies to provide services when it was cheaper.

The fall in the council's funds also comes from council tax not increasing above 2% for the next two years.

The council said its budgets had already been cut by £170m since 2010.