COUNCIL leaders in Oxfordshire are confident they can weather the storm of spending cuts outlined by the Chancellor yesterday.

The Government unveiled more than £6bn in public sector savings in a drive to slash the public deficit, insisting the measures should send a “shockwave” through Whitehall.

High-profile savings include £1.15bn off spending on Government consultants, advertising and travel this year, £1.7bn from halting or delaying major projects, and £600m from scrapping quangos.

But Oxford City and Oxfordshire County Councils both say they are prepared.

City council leader Bob Price said plans had been drawn up lean times in mind.

He said: “The city council budget does not assume any significant increase in grants from the Government, so we are not likely to be affected.”

Oxfordshire County Council said it had outlined £100m savings in the next five years.

County leader Keith Mitchell added: “Sensible forward planning means we are ahead of the game in terms of approaching this tough period for public sector funding.”

However, opponents immediately started highlighting details that are likely to prove unpopular, including freezing Civil Service recruitment and cutting back on university places.