Probing council cuts, one department at a time

View from the roof of Fairfax House, with thanks to the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust. Looking across to the Bucks County Council (BCC) tower

This Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the Budget Scrutiny Select Committee inquiry is probing the finer points of cuts to services across Buckinghamshire.

On Tuesday the committee heard from council leader Martin Tett, who outlined the council’s priorities for the coming year.

They then discussed changes to budgets for services including Community Impact Bucks, which supports local voluntary organisations and Citizens Advice Bureaus across the county.

Other departments, such as education were also set to be discussed.

The council’s beleaguered children’s service, which has received a cash boost of more than £8million after a damning Ofsted report, is also on the agenda.

Angela Macpherson, who recently resigned from her role as cabinet member for children’s services for personal reasons, is a scrutiny committee member, along with ten others from across the parties.

Scrutinising the budget is part of the council’s legal obligation, before the budget is approved in March.

The process allows changes to be made, and representatives from organisations and departments to give updates and have their say on the resources they need.