At a meeting of Full Council this week, Green Councillors spoke out about Labour-run Oxford City Council's £2.348m surplus, equivalent to about 10% of the City's annual net budget, and focused in on an underspend of £0.4m on homelessness prevention [1].

Oxford's Green Councillors have condemned the City Council's latest heavy-handed attempt, following on from the controversial Public Space Protection Order (PSPO),  to fine rough sleepers in the City Centre. 

Oxford City Council will be installing signs declaring Oxford to be a “Cycling city” on all entrances to Oxford as a statement of intent.  With regard to this, Green Party Cllr and Transport spokesperson Dick Wolff says

"This signage initiative is welcome as is the commitment to fund improved cycle provision. But it is worth putting this expenditure in perspective. The County and City Councils spend around £60m on transport and roads each year. Only a very small fraction is spent on cycle provision. And this is all set against a background of falling cycle use and increased accident rates. Much more needs to be done."

 Note 1: The chart below shows the latest data issued by the County Council showing declining cycle traffic over the last 5 years and increasing casualty rates.

For more info, call Cllr Dick Wolff on 07968 486854

Policy Fest!