Laura Sharman 12 November 2015

David Cameron involved in row with local council over cuts

Prime minister David Cameron has come under fire after complaining about cuts to frontline services by his Conservative-run local council.

In a letter, revealed by the Oxford Mail, Cameron wrote to the leader of Oxfordshire County Council expressing his ‘disappointment’ over proposed cuts to frontline services.

In the letter to leader of the council, Ian Hudspeth, Mr Cameron said: ‘I was disappointed at the long list of suggestions floated in the briefing note to make significant cuts to frontline services – from elderly day centres, to libraries, to museums. This is in addition to the unwelcome and counter-productive proposals to close children’s centres across the county.

‘I would have hoped that Oxfordshire would instead be following the best practice of Conservative councils from across the country in making back office savings and protecting the frontline.’

Mr Cameron went on to urge the county council to explore more joint working and shared services with other local authorities and public authorities.

However, in response cllr Hudsbeth reminded Mr Cameron he ‘worked hard to assist you in achieving a Conservative majority’. His letter back goes on to dismiss many of the points made by Mr Cameron, highlighting the council employs three thousand fewer staff than it did back in 2010.

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