Council cuts ‘won’t hit old and vulnerable’ (From Banbury Cake)

Council cuts ‘won’t hit old and vulnerable’

7:42pm Monday 8th February 2010

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FRONT-line home support services for sick and vulnerable adults will not be cut today, Oxfordshire County Council has pledged.

The council needs to save £103.8m over the next five years because of anticipated funding cuts, although it has promised to reinvest £72m in services.

Councillors will meet at 10am today to decide how best to save the money.

Fears have been raised that services for 5,000 vulnerable people will suffer because of part of the council’s plan, which would see £2m trimmed from the home care support budget.

Unison branch secretary Mark Fysh described the planned cut as “untenable”.

But last night the council insisted none of the cuts will affect front-line services or lead to jobs cuts for carers.

Council spokesman Paul Smith said: “There are plans to save around £2m from the home care support budget over five years.

“However, none of this will impact on the front line. The aim is to achieve much tighter contract costs with external providers and save on administration. This is all about providing the same quality service for less money – making the taxpayer’s money work harder.”

The Conservative administration is also expected to vote through a 2.75 per cent council tax rise, one per cent less than originally proposed.

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