The major political news of the week (apart from the gagging of debate between democratically elected councillors in the Council Chamber by the Labour Mayor on Monday) was that a by election has been called in the Headington Hill and Northway ward. Names of candidates have to be in by Friday 27 February and the election will be held on Thursday 26 March
Labour’s budget forced through without debate
In a turn of events which left opposition councillors, members of the public and the press gasping, the Labour group on Oxford City Council last night prevented any debate on their budget proposals in council, and then forced them through on the Lord Mayor’s casting vote. The increase in council tax will be 4.5%, well above the increases in income which most Oxford residents are likely to get this year.
David says: “You have to wonder why Labour were so keen to avoid discussion of their proposals. In recent weeks we have seen them going back on their promises to keep the Peers Leisure Centre open, and on their undertaking to traders in the Covered Market to invest in repairs and improvements. They are saying they will keep the Museum of Oxford open, but have not budgeted enough money for this. What else are they trying to hide?”
Deputy Leader Stephen Brown added: “We proposed our own alternative budget, setting the Council Tax increase at 2%, which we felt was more reasonable in the present climate. But we still found ways to honour the council’s promises on the Covered Market, and the Museum, and to help community centre users which are going to be squeezed with the new business rates, and the various other local groups who rely on grants from the area committees. Labour seems to have no understanding of what life will be like for people during this recession.”
To see the report in the Oxford Mail, visit:
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/yourtown/oxford/4131037.Council_tax_to_rise_by_4_5_per_cent/
Town Hall disgrace
This is a personal view from Ruth!
A petition signed by more than 1300 citizens of Oxford pleading for the continuation of the Museum of Oxford was snubbed at the full Council meeting at the Town Hall tonight. The Labour administration did not allow this issue to be debated further as part of the budget proposals. I was ashamed at this blatant disregard for the views of the City’s residents.
Furthermore, the Labour administration did not allow further debate on other important issues including the refurbishment of the Covered Market, the reinstatement of a street warden post in Northway, area committee discretionary grants weighted according to Indices of Multiple Deprivation, additional citizen advice to cope with financial hardship (at a time when jobs are being cut at BMW), the imposition of business rates on community centres, and the introduction of fuel poverty hardship grants. Democratically elected members have been denied the right to speak up for their constituents. This was no way to run a council meeting.
For the first time since I was elected a city councillor, I felt appalled at the way council business was conducted tonight. David and I were not even given a chance to speak on issues that matter to the people of Headington. If you care about democracy, for sanity’s sake vote Lib Dem.
Transform Oxford – your views count!
The Lib Dems have conducted an on-line survey associated with our county and city group websites. We now have over 100 responses. The participants are of course anonymous, and no claims can be made that they represent a balanced cross-section of the population. However, there is also no sign that any individuals or groups have tried to influence the results in any direction – there has been a constant flow of a few a day.
County Cllr Ian Hudspeth mentioned at Central South & West Area Committee that he had received a couple of hundred feedback forms as a result of the consultations to date. Here are the (unedited) results of our survey and thank you to everyone who took part from the Headington Ward
Q1, Do you feel that more pedestrianisation of central Oxford would attract you to visit more often?
Yes, definitely – 3%
Probably – 34%
It depends on other factors – 30%
Probably not – 31%
No – 2%
Q2, Which streets do you feel would benefit most from being pedestrianised?
Broad St – 3%
George St – 10%
Queen St – 19%
Turl St – 15%
New Inn Hall St – 19%
Magdalen St/Magdalen St East – 20%
Beaumont St – 14%
High St – 0%
Q3, If you travel from East Oxford, would you find it acceptable if you always had to change buses at the Plain?
Yes – 1%
No – 98%
Don’t know – 1%
Q4, Do you feel that the number of buses on the High St is ….
Far too many – 2%
Too many – 49%
About right – 47%
As many as there need to be – 2%
Q5, Do you feel that the traffic lights outside Debenhams (Cornmarket/George St junction) make it safer for pedestrians?
Yes – 2%
No – 97%
Don’t Know – 1%
Q6 – Any other suggestions for improving things for pedestrians in central Oxford?
Plan not joined up – needs of cyclists being ignored.
Pembroke St should be considered for pedestrianisation.
Broad St has great potential – introduce continental style cafes and places to lounge around.
Frideswide Square is a mess for both traffic and pedestrians – this needs special consideration.
Traffic on High St and St Aldate’s should be slowed right down, and pedestrians allowed to use road space.
Bus routes need to be rationalised – more needed between Park & Rides/station and residential areas.
Pedestrianisation is a mad idea – reopen Cornmarket and George St to through traffic.
There isn’t enough in central Oxford to make pedestrianisation worthwhile.
Lib Dem budget proposals honour their promises
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At the Oxford City Council budget debate on Monday, the Liberal Democrat group will propose a set of amendments intended to honour undertakings to community groups which the Labour administration’s proposals have abandoned.
Deputy Leader Stephen Brown says: “We find it unacceptable that Labour should let down those in the city who are most in need of help in these difficult times. The users of our community centres, those in fuel poverty and other financial hardship, and those in fear of crime, are not getting the help from Labour that they deserve. Instead, Labour is proposing a stonking 4.5% increase in Council Tax, which will hit those on low incomes hardest.”
Added Cllr Brown: “Last year, the Lib Dems proposed an increase in council tax of 2% for the financial year 2009/10, and we still think that is the right level. We also want to see the council honour its promises to repair the Covered Market, to keep the Museum of Oxford open, and to maintain area grants for the many valuable community initiatives. We also want to correct the serious effects of new business rates on community centres, and to cancel cuts in the budgets for Street Wardens and Social Inclusion initiatives which Labour wants to make.”
Proposals include cutting the amount of savings that the Museum of Oxford must make next year; this would allow more time for a Trust to be set up to ensure that the Museum has a long term future. This has been an issue that has generated much concern from residents in our Ward.
No single Party has a majority on Oxford City Council. The Labour group is the largest and runs a minority administration, but the combined votes of the opposition parties in council can prevent their budget being adopted. The Liberal Democrat amendments will be debated along with proposals from the Green group at a full council meeting starting at 5 p.m. on Monday 16th February in the Town Hall. Members of the public are welcome to attend
Useful websites
People often ask us questions about who to report things to, or how to find out what’s going on in the area. It’s certainly worth trying oout the following web pages if you haven’t already
Fix My Street
www.fixmystreet.com is a sort of (non-party) online casework service. The site encourages people to register their local issues, and then monitor how, when and by who they’re fixed by.
Enter your postcode (or a postcode in the middle of the ward you represent) and you’ll get a list of issues in your local area. You can also sign up for email alerts every time someone enters a new issue.
Planning Alerts
www.planningalerts.com has been around on a trial basis for a little while now – its pretty straight-forward: give your postcode and email address and in return you get news of planning applications by email. The email alerts seem to be comprehensive and complement the ones offered by the City council. It covers 315 local authorities at the moment.
Write to Them
Another website from the same people as Fix My Street is www.writetothem.com. Enter the postcode in your ward, and hopefully you should come up with the details of your city councillors, county councillors and MP
20 MPH decision imminent
The latest hot tip we have received is that the decision on the introduction of 20 mph limits will be made/announced on 23 April
Further consultation on 20mph limits for Oxford
People are to be asked for their views on where 20mph speed limits
should go in Oxford as the county council starts a consultation
exercise on February 12.
In Autumn 2008, the people of Oxford were asked what they thought
about the idea of introducing 20mph speed limits in the city.
Two-thirds of people who responded were positive about the idea.
The county council now wants to know what people think of the detailed
plans in terms of which roads are to be included in the proposal and
which should remain excluded.
WHERE COULD LIMITS BE INTRODUCED?
The proposals recommend that 20mph limits could be introduced in 2009 on:
Minor roads within the city including outlying areas such as Sandhills
Un-numbered through roads except where they are part of heavily-used
bus routes into the city, for example the section of Blackbird Leys
Road (north west of Balfour Road) and Barns Road (except for the
section immediately adjoining Between Towns Road), and Old Abingdon
Road
Some sections of the main A roads and the B road network where there
are busy shopping areas, for example the London Road through Oxford
Brookes University/Headington and on parts of the B4495 through Temple
Cowley
EXISTING 20 MPH ZONES
There are already a number of 20mph zones and limits in Oxford and
these would be incorporated into the wider project. The area of the
city centre that would be covered by the 20mph limit would be expanded
significantly.
HOW WOULD MAIN ROADS BE AFFECTED?
Radial routes such as:
Abingdon Road
Banbury Road (either side of Summertown)
Woodstock Road
Botley Road beyond Abbey Road
London Road either side of Brookes/Headington Shops
Iffley Road beyond Temple Street
would NOT be included.
Routes around the city such as:
the ring road
Oxpens Road/Thames Street
Marston Ferry Road
Donnington Bridge Road
would also NOT be part of the limit.
The Botley, Cumnor and North Hinksey areas will NOT be part of any
20mph plans with people from those areas having already stated that
they do not want to be part of the proposal.
BENEFITS
The introduction of 20mph speed limits, which are designed to be
self-enforcing, can reduce accident levels, especially when associated
with traffic-calming measures. The 20mph limit would encourage more
walking and cycle trips and bring associated health benefits.
HOW TO HAVE YOUR SAY
Consultation officially begins on February 12 and runs until March 5 .
You can find out more and have your say by:
Going to your local library in Oxford, viewing information about the
plans and filling in a response form. Participating libraries are
Blackbird Leys Cowley, Headington, Central Oxford and Summertown. The
same information will be available at receptions in County Hall and
the county council’s Speedwell Street headquarters.
Visiting Oxfordshire County Council’s website at
www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/20limits and filling in the same form.
Writing to the county council at Oxfordshire County Council, 20 Limit
Consultation, Speedwell House, Speedwell Street, FREEPOST OF260,
Oxford, OX1 1BR .
Emailing 20@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Waitrose building plans
I had a meeting on site yesterday with a representative from Waitrose and three officers from the City Council to discuss the building works which will take place in April. The Project Manager for the re-fit is Mark Sharkey and I have his contact details; he managed the Asda refit in Wheatley and has practical working experience with some of the sub-contracters on this project.
It was agreed that 30 car park spaces would be cordoned off for use by the Waitrose construction team for storing materials and for skips. Work vehicles will have sole use of the entrance nearest the London Road junction (next to the Audio shop) for access to the site. This will leave the main entrance accessible to the public. There will be a crane on site while they are working on the roof of the building. Cycle parking will be moved elsewhere on site during the re-fit as a temporary measure. Two trees that currently overhang the building are considered a hazard and will be trimmed back by the Parks Dept.
Waitrose are keen to relocate the recycling bins on the far side of the car park near the wall with Bury Knowle Park, this has also been suggested by residents. We are asking the City Works Dept. to advise us on the most suitable location.
Signage will be put up and Waitrose will re-line the car park at the end of the project. It is recognised that the lighting in the car park isn’t very good, Waitrose will paint the lamp posts in corporate colours (black and silver).
Timescale
It is likely that the project will run from 9/4/09-30/4/09
1 month before the start date, Waitrose will write to those in neighbouring properties, explaining what will happen and when, and giving contact details of the site manager and project manager
6/4/09-8/4/09 Allowed on site (busy traffic, setting up huts etc)
8/4/09 Last day of trading for Somerfield’s
9/4/09 Ownership transferred to Waitrose
16/4/09 Real work starts
Noise
We have specified that that noise is kept to a minimum (they are working 24/7) and also that that they should not be using noisy equipment after 20.00. They will keep the doors closed at all times while work is going on. The power will be taken off as part of the re-fit so there will be use of generators, the project manager is sourcing the quietest ones he can find.
Shoppers’ tickets
The officer in charge of car parks at the City is negotiating terms with Waitrose concerning ‘shoppers’ tickets’ i.e. a discount on parking for those who buy goods at Waitrose. More on this later!
Staff
I understand that it is Waitrose policy to retain staff from the existing Somerfields’ store, at least for twelve months, during which time they will have the opportunity to attend staff training courses and may be retained on a permanent basis after that date.
Plans
I don’t have the detailed plans yet but it would seem that there is a space allocated to on-site bakery!
St Aldate’s customer services centre closed due to snow
The St Aldates chambers customer service centre has had to be closed this morning due to the adverse weather. There is a notice on the door giving telephone contact numbers and there is a free phone in the lobby so that queries can be dealt with by phone.
They have called all customers ( where they have given a telephone number) who had made an appointment for meetings today. They have been offered alternative appointments or referred to Templars Square one stop shop which remains open and is being staffed by three officers .
There are currently eleven customer service staff and phone lines at the telephone contact centre were open from 9.30am . The sites will close at 16.30 in order that staff can get home safely, this time may be brought forward now that bus services have been suspended. Probably best to ring before you go!