ANNEX 7

MORI BUDGET CONSULTATION WORKSHOP

Increases in Council Tax Levels favoured by the different participating Groups 

	6.6%	7.1%	7.5%

	18-30 yrs	31-54 yrs	55 yrs +

6.25%

Key Issues from the different participating Groups

Consultation Workshop Priorities	Revenue Budget Proposals	
High priority areas for spend:	
•	‘improving social care provision’ 	£2m for services for older people and adults with learning disability	
•	‘stronger financial and management systems’.  	£1.5m to strengthen corporate finance function and extend SAP to schools	
Medium priority areas: 	
•	‘maintaining roads & pavements’	£0.6m for highway maintenance	
•	‘improving the Fire & Rescue Service’	£0.1m for implementation of integrated risk management arrangements	
•	‘helping children with SEN’ 	£2.6m for statementing and out of county provision	
•	‘managing Oxfordshire’s waste effectively’	£0.18m for waste management	
Least priority areas accorded by all groups: 	
•	‘providing rural bus services’	£0.3m towards meeting bus subsidy shortfall	
•	‘improving library opening hours’ 	£0.1m to meet government standards	
•	‘improving cultural services’	£0.1m for “culture bus” and “Oxford Inspires”	
Differing levels of priority:	
•	‘early years education opportunities’  	£0.6m to implement Foundation Stage policy	
•	‘improving schools & other public buildings’ 	£1.3m to address backlog, meet statutory requirements etc	
Additional areas for spend suggested by individual discussion groups:	
•	‘affordable housing’ 	Given that the County Council is not a housing authority and that some investment has been made in the current year to secure the PSA housing target, the Executive did no feel able to commit more funds to this area	
•	‘family support (rather than early years)’	£0.2m (net) for support for children and families