Corporate Plan 2010/11 onwards (Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats)

Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats <info@oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk>

Corporate Plan 2010/11 onwards

February 9, 2010 10:30 AM
By Cllr Zoe Patrick, Leader of the Opposition in Council

This Corporate Plan is not as large as has been produced in previous years, and though it is to be welcomed that there is not so much to read, it is much lacking in detail. Also, without a delivery plan, which I know we have heard will come later, it does make it difficult to comment on overall, when one cannot see what has been targeted for delivery.

For instance, on the first page of the plan, we read that traffic congestion and pollution is growing - but there is no way of knowing what is being done to address this.

I was pleased to see there is a lot of references to breaking the cycle of deprivation; it is gratifying to see that in this European Year of Poverty some of the issues which we highlighted in my group's themed debate are now getting onto the Cabinet's radar system. So again, I will be looking forward to seeing some action here too.

We see reference to locality working, but I am not sure how this will work in practice. I am still awaiting the councillors' briefing for those of us who represent divisions in the Vale. Despite asking, we have still not been given a date. And I do express disappointment that my division of Grove and Wantage, despite the extra significant development expected, is not singled out in the first 6 pilot areas.

No one can argue with the challenges set out in the plan and we all know too well about the 'dormitory town syndrome'. But Oxford still remains the centre for many people for employment, with the hospitals and the university all here in the city, but very little housing growth allowed for. Instead the market towns are made to expand further and further so it is no wonder that dormitory towns will grow.

It is interesting to see how high carbon emissions are per person in the graph. However, there does not appear to be an explanation here, and this should be helpful if there is to be action earmarked in the delivery plan when we get it.

Most interesting is the figure where it shows investment in Oxfordshire, where, sadly, we can see that most investment is in the north and in the city, with very little in the south of the county (with the exception of £44 million - but it is not clear from the map whether this sits in Wallingford), despite the south being part of the key growth areas for the coming years.