http://oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk/speecharchive.php Recent Speeches from Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats en-GB Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats http://oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats 2010-07-31T19:57+01:00 United Kingdom http://oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk/speeches/000128/public_health_report.html I always look forward to our Director of Public Health's report and I am never disappointed by the key messages and challenges which are contained inside. However, I am keen to make a few points. 2010-06-22T00:00+01:00 http://oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk/speeches/000129/member_champions.html I find this paper very arrogant. No other Group has been given an opportunity to suggest areas where we might be in need of champions and no champions have been appointed from any other group despite the fact that they do not make decisions. Indeed, I remember the Leader once saying that he did not agree with the concept of champions - so he has obviously changed his mind. 2010-06-22T00:00+01:00 http://oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk/speeches/000127/petition_scheme.html The new petition scheme is an important opportunity for members of the public to raise issues with the Council. 2010-06-15T00:00+01:00 http://oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk/speeches/000125/scrutiny_annual_report.html I was disappointed to see this very thin report to this Council meeting, which actually tells us very little about the work of the scrutiny committees. In the past we have received a full booklet showing us what each committee has been working on. One could be excused for thinking that nothing very much has happened at all. In the 9 pages which have been produced here, we must ask what has been scrutinised. 2010-06-15T00:00+01:00 http://oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk/speeches/000126/themed_debate_on_working_together_with_oxon_mps.html I can't help but feel that we have an overkill today debating about what MPs should be doing for Oxfordshire. Frankly I would have hoped that all our MPs - both new and old - would appreciate that it would be to their benefit to work closely with the Council. Indeed, I had understood they were already working closely with us because I have sat through many MP briefing sessions where big items coming up affecting the County have been discussed - whether it was asylum seeking children or larger transport projects. So, does this mean that the Leader has not been convinced that MPs have been doing their jobs properly? 2010-05-15T00:00+01:00 http://oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk/speeches/000121/personal_care_at_home_bill.html I still believe my motion is highly relevant, because it is unclear how the policy will be funded, despite assurance from those speaking from the Labour benches this afternoon. I still think that the Leader should write to the Secretary of State for Health, and the Shadow Secretary of State reiterating our concerns about this issue, and I hope that what has been raised this afternoon has been noted down in order for us to do this. 2010-04-06T14:30+01:00 http://oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk/speeches/000122/themed_debate_on_oxfordshire_plan.html Although it is stated here that the Medium Term Corporate Plan was agreed on 9th February, I should first like to point out that despite asking at the last council meeting, there has still been no delivery plan issued. 2010-04-06T14:00+01:00 http://oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk/speeches/000124/proposal_for_nomination_of_cllr_purse_as_chairman_to_the_council.html I should like to propose Cllr Anne Purse to be Chairman of the Council. 2010-04-06T10:30+01:00 http://oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk/speeches/000123/tribute_to_outgoing_chairman.html I should like to pay tribute to Cllr. Tony Crabbe for the service he has given to the council over the last two years. I know that he was certainly conscious during his last year that we had in effect not had 'our turn' in seeing Cllr. Purse take office. It was a shame that we had to break that tradition, but Cllr. Crabbe has been very fair to me as Leader of the Opposition. I have been invited to many events over the last 2 years, and just to pick on some of those enjoyable times, I should like to mention the 'Singing Histories' celebration in the Westgate Library, several sessions where we gave out long service awards to those people within the various directorates of the council and last but not least the tour on the open-decked bus around Oxford which we was put on for the services personnel of Bicester garrison. There were many other occasions to which I was invited, too numerous to mention here, but I certainly made every effort to come along if I could, and Cllr Crabbe was always jovial on all these occasions and had no difficulties in making everyone feel very welcome. I am sure he will remember these two years with fondness as he returns to his political role within the council. 2010-04-06T10:15+01:00 http://oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk/speeches/000119/conservative_budget.html There has been an unusual reliance on Biblical quotations at this Council meeting and I would like to remind Councillor Mitchell - who is unfortunately leaving the Chamber - and who has been so free with his comments on others' intellectual abilities that it is the meek who will inherit the earth. 2010-02-09T15:30+00:00 http://oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk/speeches/000118/liberal_democrat_budget_amendments__children__young_people.html Within the limited flexibility that we have, the priorities for the Liberal Democrat group are services for children & young people; services for the elderly and road and pavement maintenance. 2010-02-09T12:43+00:00 http://oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk/speeches/000120/liberal_democrat_budget_amendments__seconding.html We propose increased income from evening and Sunday parking charges and a reduction in spin, back office, and costs of unnecessary glossy publications. Parking spaces were all full before, so there are no extra people coming into Oxford - it's just that it's free for them. 2010-02-09T11:55+00:00 http://oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk/speeches/000117/liberal_democrat_budget_amendments__proposing.html I am pleased to present our Opposition budget amendments at Council today. I would like to thank Sue Scane and her team, and in particular her colleague, Katy, who spent many hours with us preparing this budget and thus ensuring we have a robust proposal to put before you. I would also like to express my gratitude to Stephanie for her hard work too. 2010-02-09T11:44+00:00 http://oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk/speeches/000116/corporate_plan_201011_onwards.html 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. 2010-02-09T10:30+00:00 http://oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk/speeches/000115/education_attainment.html I am a little unsure about what the outcome of this debate is intended to be, especially as it says in the first sentence that the paper is to 'stimulate a debate on Educational Attainment in schools in Oxfordshire'. I struggled to see in the report any suggestions for improvement. I am also not clear about the recommendation and how it will actually make a difference. 2010-01-12T14:00+00:00