West Central Liberal Democrats

Archived news

May 26th 2005: Refurbished Ferry Sports Centre re-opened

After a £3.4 million pound investment by Oxford City Council, authorised by the Executive Board of which Alan is a member, the centre has a state of the art gym, a new dance studio, and refurbished sports hall, swimming pool and changing facilities.

The mayor of Bonn said that his city has over 20 public swimming pools, but he was very impressed by the quality of the Ferry centre and the obvious enthusiasm of its users.

Attendance by people from all over Oxford has exceeded all expectations since the centre re-opened in early April. More than 400,000 people are expected to pass through the doors of the new centre in the year. For further information, or for membership enquiries please contact the centre on 01865 467061.

May 23rd 2005: Conservatives profoundly undemocratic

The dominant Conservative group on Oxfordshire County Council has attracted anger by using their majority on the council to grab all committee chair and vice-chair positions, following the recent county council elections in Oxfordshire. This includes all the Scrutiny Committee, whose role is to monitor and question the Conservative executive board.

Liberal Democrat county councillor David Turner said this was like putting Dracula in charge of the blood bank at the JR Hospital.

Quoted in the Oxford Mail, Alan Armitage, recently elected county councillor for West Central Oxford, said: "This is profoundly undemocratic – supporters of the administration should not be entrusted with scrutineering because they are compromised. They will be able to stop all intrusive questions and the electors will have no way of making sure they are getting best value for money or abiding by laws and rules."

Councillor Armitage added: "it is particularly worrying for us in Oxford, because the opportunities for us to challenge the administration in decisions affecting people in the city are now very limited. The Conservatives came fourth in Oxford in the elections, and didn't win a single council seat. Yet they are able to do as they like, because of the votes of people who don't live here."

On the Lib Dem-run Vale of White Horse Council, the Scrutiny Committee is chaired by a member of the opposition. On Oxford City Council, currently run by a minority Labour administration, all Scrutiny chairs are also members of opposition parties.

Paul & Alan