Tories Tighten Grip on County Outside Bodies
September 22, 2005 12:00 AM
The County Council's Democracy and Organisation Committee decided today to replace Liberal Democrat and other positions on the outside bodies of the Council with Conservative councillors.
Despite objections from the Lib Dem group that this was not reflecting a proper political balance, the motion was lost, by 6 votes to 9.
Cllr. Zoé Patrick, Deputy Leader of the Opposition who sat on the committee says, "This is a blatant disregard of the principle that it should be 'the best person for the job'. I had been put forward for the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is a key area of the Downs by the Ridgeway, much of which surrounds the Wantage area, my ward. The member to take that position not only represents West Oxfordshire around Chipping Norton, but had already been appointed to the Cotswold AONB Conservation Board. How can she cover both areas miles apart?"
Some other examples of where Liberal Democrats were outnumbered for positions were: Chilterns AONB Conservation Board, where we had proposed Cllr. Anne Purse, and Oxfordshire Museums Council and Tourism South East where we had proposed Cllr Alan Armitage and Cllr Lesley Legge respectively.
There were 22 vacancies on these outside bodies, 20 of these were filled by Conservatives, only two places were conceded to Liberal Democrats.
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