01/09/10……Oxfordshire’s Big Debate hits the road – though not to Thame (Status: Press release)

OXDORDSHIRE County Council’s bid to gather views from local people on how major cuts to budgets that provide important services might be managed in coming years is set to hit the road with a series of public meetings planned for September.

Chancellor George Osborne indicated in his June 22 budget that most Government departments will have to deliver cuts of 25 per cent between 2011 and 2015. Some departments will receive levels of protection. This may lead to other Whitehall departments, including those that provide grants to local government, being cut by more than 25 per cent.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet is currently working on the basis of more than