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Episode details

BBC,6 mins

Explained: Oxfordshire County Council's money woes

Available for over a year

Oxfordshire County Council is struggling financially. In 2023 the local authority said it was facing a funding gap of more than £9m but that has now grown to £11.2m in just a few months. The council will set its budget for the next financial year in February and the councillor in charge of finance Dan Levy says it will soon have to make some “really tough decisions.” Oxfordshire is not alone in its struggles, councils up and down the country are have been tightening their belts for years in the face funding pressures. But why? How did it get this bad? BBC News’ political reporter Bethan Nimmo can explain.

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