THE leader of Oxfordshire County Council will be writing to the Prime Minister to express concern about funding cuts to local government after his coalition split for the first time.

Labour group leader Liz Brighouse had proposed the motion that Ian Hudspeth should write to Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron as well as the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, and the Leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband.

In it she said the cuts had done “enormous damage” to the council and its services.

And this motion was passed thanks to the votes from three independent councillors who prop up the Conservative group, which does not have a majority.

Mr Hudspeth denied the agreement with the three independents was starting to unravel, saying: “The agreement was never for general council meetings. It was for the budget and for the proposals for the leadership of the council. They are free to determine how they feel in other votes and it shows that it is a healthy coalition.

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“I am sure that the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition will note the concerns about the reductions in finding that the council has and one would hope they respond with a better settlement.”

In the council elections of 2013 the Conservative group, which previously had a majority of 30, lost overall control, one short of a majority with 31 of 63 seats.

The Oxford Mail contacted Ms Atkins, Mr Gray and Mr Sibley, but none responded.


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