Too Much Business

The County Council meeting today was just too much to deal with in one day. We started at 10am and only finished at 6pm and we still had more motions which didn't get debated. Why?

There were a number of members of the public to protest about the proposal for an Eco-town at Weston on Otmoor - two motions against this development were debated and agreed - a strong signal to government that imposing planning decisions from on high does not go down well locally.

We debated 20 mph speed limits for Oxford and the arterial roads, we supported lock-keepers cottages to be retained, should we restrict the use of the 'mosquito' in dispersing young people and should GP dispensing pharmacies be curtailed? All very worthy causes which affect residents in Oxfordshire. However, other motions will now have to wait until our next Council in September - not very satisfactory! Managing our Council meetings seems to be getting increasingly difficult. I think this shows signs of our unrest for what is hard about getting the right democratic balance - especially when in Opposition.

However, I was pleased that my motion to sign up the the European Charter on Equality for men and women in local life was passed before close of business, which covered a significant amount of work I have undertaken in my position at the LGA (Local Government Association) on the Community Well-being Board. During February this year I was part of a British delegation to Pisa where the Charter was signed and this will now mean Oxfordshire will be one of the first Councils to sign up as a result. The work on this has been done, some of it has to meet our statutory obligation, but it is a good thing that this will now be acknowledged. To be quite honest, I was quite astonished that I was not dismissed for once - it made for a contented bus ride home.