John Goddard Sets Out His Vision for the City Council (Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrats)

Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrats <info@oxwablibdems.org.uk>

John Goddard Sets Out His Vision for the City Council

June 27, 2006 11:24 AM

John Goddard, Lib Dem Leader of Oxford City Council

Council Leader John Goddard

Cllr John Goddard, Leader of the City Council, yesterday addressed the first Full Council since the Liberal Democrats became the largest party in the chamber. In his statement, he set out his aims and ambitions for the Council. He said:

"At this first Council of the new Administration I want to make clear our stance and approach. Not a contentious manifesto, just a reminder of what we, the whole council, mostly, have in common and can, I believe, work on together.

First, the situation we have to remember all the time and manage our resources accordingly: the threat of climate change. We are all environmentalists now. The challenge we face is to find practical ways of managing our lives into the low carbon economy.

Then, Oxford - the people who live or work or visit here - face three priority issues:

• housing - the need for more and better quality housing especially affordable housing;

• inequalities - in health, in skills, in income, in life chances. The need here is to reduce inequalities by extending prosperity and opportunity more widely;

• transport - the need here is for better public transport and less congestion and pollution

These three big issues require that a medium size District Council, which is what this council is, works with others authorities, county, police, health other Districts, voluntary organisations and businesses. All these require a steady and sustained collective approach, not short-termism

Immediately, what this council can and must do is Improve its performance. The council is a "weak" council, making gradual improvements, yes, but still weak and giving poor value for money for its ordinary services. The Administration will be looking for better services giving better value for money. We can make a start now, within the present policy framework and budget, to make life better: safer, cleaner, greener. We shall need staff, elected members, other organisations all to work together. To this end, immediately, we want to foster not a "blame" culture but a "praise" culture, not a "Can't do" but a "Can do" approach.

I am delighted that we can start this Council year by doing just that. On behalf of the Administration and, I am confident, the whole council, I now add to the Lord Mayor's words, our congratulations and public appreciation of the work done by the Oxford Information Centre in winning, against stiff outside competition, their Oxfordshire Business Award 2006 in the Tourism category.

Tourism matters to Oxford and Oxfordshire and the TiC have done their bit really well. We heartily congratulate them and wish them continuing success."