2nd November 2005

At a meeting of the Full County Council yesterday, the ruling Conservatives again used their majority to stifle dissent and debate. They ruled out perfectly reasonable amendments from the Greens and Labour to the controversial motion on where new housing should be built and in a separate move passed a motion limiting all future motions to 250 words.

All the Green amendment was trying to do was clarify the extent of the Oxford Green Belt so that those who wished to oppose development at the edge of Oxford but support development at Shipton Quarry (which is north of Kidlington but still officially within Oxford's Green Belt) could do so. As it was, those whose wanted to support Shipton Quarry alone (the Green view) could not do so.

Says Green Councillor Craig Simmons: "These two more examples of how the Conservatives are trying to stifle debate and dissent."

Following the Conservative majority gained at the last Oxfordshire County Council elections, the Greens (the only other Group to make gains at the County elections) have been openly critical of the Tories for control freakery.

Says County Green Group Leader Cllr Larry Sanders, "Apart from taking all the seats on the ruling Executive Committee, which was expected, the Tories are also taking the Chair and Vice Chairs of all the Scrutiny Committees - whose main role is to hold the Executive to account. Usually, these seats would be taken by opposition Councillors to ensure openness and accountability. This is an outrage - polit bureau style politics - and a slap in the face to those electors who didn't vote Conservative. Those in Oxford, where no Tories were elected, should feel especially cheated."

FMI:

Cllr Larry Sanders 01865 723981

Cllr. Craig Simmons 01865 202257