County Green Group Budget Launch

OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL CONSERVATIVES IGNORE CAMERON’S ‘COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATIVISM’

 

On February 14th, the Greens will be presenting their alternative to the ruling Conservative Group Budget

 

Cllr Larry Sanders, Leader of the Green Group on Oxfordshire County Council, said:   “The proposed Conservative Budget cuts spending on home, residential, intermediate and respite care for older people; it ignores the increase in numbers of very old people. This will be disastrous for older people and their families. It also ignores David Cameron’s policy of ‘compassionate conservatism’. The ‘old’ Conservative leadership of the County Council has delivered a slap in the face to the new leader.”

 

The Green budget will reverse£1.2 million of cuts to older people’s services. In this they join the Labour and Liberal Democrats, who would each restore at least a million pounds. This means Parties representing 65% of the people of the County oppose the Conservative meanness.

 

To make sure the money is not wasted requires independent champions. The Conservatives are refusing the small amount of funding needed to keep alive two extremely effective voluntary organisations. The Oxfordshire Carers’ Forum has been representing carers’ views for thirteen years. It is the only county-wide group which represents and campaigns for carers. It has asked for £23,000. to support the volunteer workers who are all carers or former carers. Oxfordshire Community Care Rights needs £30,000 to continue representing people with disabilities who are not getting the services they need from the County or the NHS. They represent service users and protect the County from expensive law suits. The Green Group would fund both.

 

Perhaps the greatest flaw in the County’s services is that carers, people who look after people with disabilities, do not know what will happen in an emergency or how their loved ones will be cared for when they are no longer able to care. The Green budget would spend £1,560,000 over four years to create these services.   

  

 

Contact:

Larry Sanders

Tel.: 01865 723981

Email: larry.sanders@oxfordshire.gov.uk