A SIXTH successive year of cuts imposed by Oxfordshire County Council has served to reinvigorate the local anti-cuts campaign (OSTCC). A demonstration has been called to march through Oxford on February 6.
The lion's share of this year's cuts, arising from Labour's decision to give Oxfordshire the lowest grant settlement in England, will fall on social services, which are already struggling to complete the £5m cuts imposed during the current financial year.
A vocal group of social workers have been attending OSTCC meetings, and spelled out their concerns in a statement to the press:
"The proposed Social Services cuts in Oxfordshire will cause severe suffering to very disabled children and to frail elderly people, and make life impossible for their families.
"The suffering will come from the closure of day centres for the most disabled children and from reductions in help to dress, bathe and feed elderly disabled people living at home.
"The closure of old peoples' homes will also cause considerable distress. The removal of social workers supporting families and caring for children will also be very damag"We frontline social workers hope that the people of Oxfordshire, having learned the effect of these cruel cuts, will agree they simply cannot be made."
Three UNISON branches -Oxfordshire Health, County and Oxford City - have joined forces to back the February 6 demonstration (details p2), which is also supported by the Trades Council, and by City council leader John Tanner, who will chair the concluding rally in the Town Hall. • In HAMMERSMITH, UNISON members staged a one-day strike on January 18 to save 100 jobs in the housing benefit office. • SHEFFIELD council, stung by campaigners, has banned union meetings on council premises.