A damning new report from the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion (CESI) has found that Oxford residents on benefits are being forced to economise on the basics: food and household energy bills. Some even admitted that they "were skipping meals" to provide food for their children. 

Green proposals to provide an extra £2m for spending on homelessness and inequality in Oxford were tonight voted down by Labour and LibDems at the annual Council budget setting meeting.

This evening (18th February), Oxford City Council will be setting its annual budget against a backdrop of rising inequality in the City and a housing crisis fuelled by ever increasing rents and rising house prices. Oxford officially has the least affordable housing in the country.

As the Government continues to cut the support given to local Councils, the Greens have sought to resist austerity with a bold budget which directs an additional £2m into frontline services targeted at the most vulnerable City residents.

Oxford's Green Councillors have reacted to the news of likely police cuts by again urging the City Council to impose a 'late night levy' on late opening bars, restaurants and fast food outlets.

Oxfordshire Green Party announced that it will support NHS staff in their strike on November 24 to protest the Government’s decision to reject the independent pay review body’s recommendation of a 1% wage increase.

Carfax Ward by-election. 4th September.

The Greens have criticised Labour for engineering a 'sham election' timed at their convenience for when the majority of voters were absent. 

Councillor David Williams, leader of the Green Group on the County Council, will be presenting a motion to the County Council on the new system of voter registration which is coming into force shortly. Experience elsewhere suggests a loss of registered individuals by as much as 30% in the poorest areas.

The Department for Transport is raising the limit for HGVs on rural single carriageway roads from 40mph to 50mph. David Williams, Green Party leader on Oxfordshire County Council comments:

Concerning the proposed takeover of the East Oxford Community Centre by the City Council, Councillor Dick Wolff (Green Party, St Marys Ward) commented on behalf of the City Council Green Group:

Following the resignation today of the third Labour Councillor*  in the two months after the local elections, the Greens have criticised Labour for wasting public funds for political gain.