Oxfordshire County Council wants you to tell it how to slash £200m over the next five years.

The cash-strapped authority is facing “unprecedented” pressure on its finances as the Government seeks to cut public spending.

It is to hold five public meetings, called The Oxfordshire Big Debate, across the county to get suggestions about what services could be sacrificed.

In July, an online version of debate was launched to allow residents to have their say on how County Hall should save money. More than 130 ideas have already been logged.

County leader Keith Mitchell said: “None of us are under any illusions about the stark nature of the choices that face us here.

“We will have to cut back significantly, if not completely, on some of our services.

“The level of change will be unprecedented.”

The council will not know the full extent of its financial crisis until the Government’s spending review is completed this autumn.

Whitehall departments, including those responsible for local government funding, have been ordered to prepare budget cuts of up to 40 per cent.

In response, the county council has asked officers to find £203m of savings over the next five years.

That is on top of the £11m it slashed from this year’s budget that has seen speed cameras switched off, 150 council management posts axed and schools and roads projects shelved.

Mr Mitchell said: “It is important that we factor in the views of Oxfordshire residents when making these incredibly tough choices.

“Constructive and innovative ideas are very welcome.”

County Hall receives about two-thirds of its funding from central Government. Its responsibilities include schools, youth services, the youth offending service, social services, libraries, museums, transport, and the fire service.

Mr Mitchell said: “We have a short timeframe before we start to consider our budgets for April 2011 onwards.

“By October, we will know more about the specific detail of cuts to local government and then in the very last part of 2010 we will hear specific detail as it relates to Oxfordshire County Council.

“All of those things will go in to the melting pot in deciding the shape of services from 2011 onwards, and the views of residents will be an important part.

“We would very much like to see and hear from people at our public meetings. We’re all in this together, councillors, council officers and the general public.”