Changes at the County Council

At yesterday's Cabinet meeting at County Hall, I spoke on a number of items. There are to be some changes to full Council meetings with the end of themed debates after a year of giving them a try. We felt that our debate on 'Breaking the Cycle of Deprivation' was a success, but unfortunately some of the themes put forward by the ruling group have not really grabbed the public's attention... congratulating Oxfordshire's newly elected MP's after the last general election was one! Council meetings are due to end at 3.30pm, but will the earlier time just cut short debates on motions? We shall have to wait and see. I suggested we may use the extra time for useful briefings and training. I attended a training session for safeguarding children on Monday which was attended by a total of 5 councillors out of the potential 74! Perhaps if training sessions were timed to coincide with councillors being in for the day then attendance would be better.

Another change is the end of 'Oxon News' the magazine which is delivered to every household in Oxfordshire with an OX postcode. £240,000 saving will be made. In opposition we welcome this saving as we have been saying for a long time that the Council should cease spending public money on glossy publications which are basically propaganda for the ruling group. I suggested that perhaps there may be savings made in the media and communications department as a a result.

With the Comprehensive Spending Review announcement today, much is being made in the news about cuts in Oxfordshire's public spending. We shall have to wait and see as the days unfold about how this will effect services.