A RANGE of cost-saving service cut plans are to be reconsidered by the county council following the recommendations of a scrutiny group.

The recommendations were made after an examination of Buckinghamshire County Council's 2012/13 to 2014/15 budgets proposals earlier this month.

The scrutiny group was tasked with making sure the county was making the right choices on revenue and capital spend and to ensure priority services were able to meet the needs of county residents.

Councillor David Shakespeare, scrutiny budget task and finish group chairman, said: "This in depth review and detailed report has highlighted a huge number of important issues - particularly the fact that the priorities and needs of our residents should be reflected at a much earlier stage in the budget-setting process. I hope that cabinet members will take this report seriously and accept the recommendations."

It was recommended that cabinet should reconsider proposed service reductions in the following areas (figures in brackets denotes the proposed reductions by end of 2014/15, unless otherwise stated)

Health and Wellbeing

Meals on Wheels service charging increases (to £200 k

Respite Services(£171k).

Education and Skills

Educational Psychology Service (£47k)

Preventative Services (£163k)

Reductions in social care training/charging (£50k),

Children's Services

Carer's payment (£60k)

The group's report stated that the county council's budget is "under year-on year pressure as funding from central government declines and service pressures - such as the ageing population, the increasing number of Looked After Children, inflationary pressures and landfill tax - increase. Central government funding in 2012/13 is increasing by less than £1million which, combined with no increase in the Council Tax level, means that available resources are at a virtual standstill."

The group also recommended that Cabinet considers boosting investment in the Independent Domestic Violence Advocates in light of the "excellent work they do across the County in supporting those most in need".

It said Cabinet should ensure that the likely 'equalities impact' is fully understood of any service reductions - meaning an impact assessment should be fully completed before service reductions are proposed.

Making the budget-setting process more accessible to residents so they can understand how their money is being spent was another of the key recommendations made on Tuesday.

These recommendations will now go to BCC for its response on Monday, February 6. The draft budget will then go forward to a full county council meeting for approval after this.