MONMOUTHSHIRE council must ‘at least’ double its savings in 2014/15, according to its leader, Councillor Peter Fox.

In his state of the county speech to all councillors on Thursday, Cllr Fox warned that in order to protect essential education and social services, other parts of the council may lose 20 to 50 percent of their present resources over the period of the medium term financial plan.

He said the next 12 to 15 months are crucial.

“We have a context of potential change. The Hill report on education is now out with over 80 proposals and the Public service Commission is underway looking at all Welsh Public Service and will be reporting back to the First Minister by the end of this year.

“We have a genuinely unprecedented challenge to public service finance in Wales. England has borne the brunt of this but now our time has come.”

Cllr Fox said meanwhile people are living longer and not always living well for longer and young people are facing real difficulties in getting jobs and homes of their own.

He said: “I believe that we have a duty to our people and our place to do our best to keep it in good order, even show others what can be achieved when times are tough.”

He reflected on the council’s achievements, which include changing the way staff work and introducing agile working, building a new County Hall, an emerging livestock market and the modernisation of and new primary schools.

Cllr Fox said he was disappointed with the Estyn inspection but is grateful for that wake up call.

He re-affirmed a commitment to children and young people.

“I want all of the children in Monmouthshire to have a fair start. A real chance in life, free from harm, able and willing to learn and supported within their families and communities.”

He added: “I am not ducking the challenge of the next few years and I am not expecting any magic wand to take the pain away. We are leaders of our communities and we owe it to them to steer a course through these challenges.”