A big thank you from both of us to everyone who made last evening’s first Headington Ward Focus Meeting such a success: the Baptist Church for letting us hire their excellent hall and being so helpful (thanks, John, Barbara and Paul!), the city council officers and representatives of institutions who attended, and, of course, the over 80 people who made the occasion so lively and engaging.

As we explained at the beginning, we hope these meetings will, for our patch of Headington Ward, fill the gap left by the demise of Area Committees — and, in time, so something more than them. We start with one arm tied behind our backs: we don’t have formal support from the Council or powers to demand people attend but what yesterday proved is that there is goodwill and thirst for these sorts of meetings.

Of course, the real test doesn’t come with the meeting itself but with the follow-up: Ruth, Altaf and myself all went away with action points and we’ll report back on them here on this website and also at our next meeting.

We do intend the Ward Focus Meetings to be a regular event in the calendar, taking place regularly in between the more diffuse Area Forums. So, do put in your diary the next meeting: 16th August at Headington School, surgery time starting at 6pm and more structured items at 6:30pm. As last night, we’ll strive to be done by 8pm. It’s only your presence and your engagement that will make these events work!