Oxfordshire Lib Dems protect most vulnerable as Labour cuts start to bite
Oxfordshire’s Liberal Democrat administration is protecting the county’s most vulnerable disabled residents from cuts forced on the county by the Labour Government.
At a Cabinet meeting this morning, Tuesday 28th July, the County Council Cabinet will look at proposals to reduce the amount of money that is disregarded when assessing how much disabled people should pay in charges for services provided by the county council.
Cllr Bekah Fletcher, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care said:
“Oxfordshire has continued to be more generous than most councils in how we assess the amount disabled people should pay towards the services we provide.
“We introduced a more generous approach than the previous Conservative administration, and are sad that we cannot continue in this way.
“Unfortunately, the pressure on the council’s budget caused by the £24 million cut to our funding by the Labour Government means that that generosity is no longer sustainable.
“The proposal is that we align Oxfordshire’s approach with that of most other councils.
“In making this change we will ensure that our most vulnerable clients will still be entitled to an individual assessment and will continue to provide the more generous offer to those who need it.”
Cllr Tim Bearder, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said:
“The Labour Government has put us in a dreadful position. We were already seeing rising demand for many of our most expensive services, and there will be no easy way to make a further £24 million of cuts.
“I would encourage every Oxfordshire resident to sign our petition calling for this nasty cut by the Labour Government to be revoked.”
The petition can be signed at: https://www.oxonld.uk/stopthecut