This was a brief meeting set up by the architects Rick Mather and they showed us plans for the redevelopment of the inside of one of the Mansfield College buildings to improve the dining room and kitchens. There is also proposed a link between the chapel and that building that would be built after demolition of some rather unattractive garages. I shan’t comment further on this as it may go to a planning application determination in a public meeting and I don’t want to fetter myself.
Crown and Thistle Premises License Review
This was a long hearing today that I chaired with Cllrs Van Coulter and Clark Brundin joining me on the panel. There was several local residents present, some supporting the pub and some against it.
The pub is owned by Greene King and has a new-ish tenant who is the Designated Premises Supervisor. I think it would be fair to say he faced a few problems and problem customers when he took over the pub and that he has worked hard to manage and reduce the problems of noise and antisocial behaviour, with perhaps not quite as much success quite as soon as everyone, him included, would have wished.
I find it difficult that these hearings are set up to be rather adversarial when they are actually trying to reach common ground between the licence holder and the relevant and/or interested parties.
This was a situation where it seems that communication had broken down between residents and the pub, even though the tenant lives there and so is a resident himself! I hope we went some way to re-opening those channels of communication and that the two councillors who requested the review will be able to help facilitate that. I was pleased and grateful that the solicitor acting for Greene King and the tenant appeared to be trying to be conciliatory as did the opposing residents and the requestors of the review.
After much hearing of evidence and discussion we imposed several measures, many suggested by Greene King, to mitigate the problems but were conscious that to do too much would stop the business from being viable and all present had agreed that would be a bad thing. Measures we took include (but are not limited to) the tenant will do a DPS training course; SIA-approved door supervisors will be in place when there is regulated entertainment and for as long as Thames Valley Police deem necessary; the tenant is to organise at least bi-monthly residents meetings with the Police, Greene King area manager and the City Council Licensing Manager present; and a noise limiter is to be fitted to make sure that neighbours are not disturbed by music from inside the pub.
We also asked for a prominent sign on the front of the pub giving a Greene King contact for residents to use if there were any further problems – although I did urge people to contact the tenant manager directly in the first instance. I do think that taking complaints too high too early can often be a contributing factor to breakdowns of communication.
I hope that these measures, and the others we imposed, will enable local residents to have their peace restoredwhile also enabling the tenant to run a viable and community-orientated business. Particularly, I hope the door staff will be able to prevent all the trouble outside and around the pub.
Please note this post does not form an official record of proceedings and should not be treated as such. The decision notice from the City Council is the definitive document.
O’Hanlon House Service Users Meeting
I attended the weekly service users’ meeting this morning at O’Hanlon House (which you might know as the night shelter but it is SO much more than that).
The meeting was run by Lucy Flanagan, one of the centre managers and there were several service users present. We talked about what a councillor is and what councillors can do for their residents/electors. I was also asked about who can become a councillor and what the process is. I explained how nominations and elections worked, and the critera for being eligible to stand (resident in area, work in area, own property in area or registered to vote in area – all for the last 12 months). I also explained a bit about what political parties are and how they work with and as part of local authorities.
I also explained how the electoral roll is no updated monthly and how O’Hanlon house could make sure its residents are registered to vote as soon as possible. This is important not only for voting but as evidence of identity these days.
Service users had a few queries about when facilities could be used and a few issues which I thought were very well dealt with by the staff present. Concerns were raised about the much-feared cuts to be announced on 20th October but there is not much anyone can say yet. I hope the City Council continues to fund the wonderful place as it is hugely deserving of it, and if it is forced to reduce service or even close this will only result in the City Council having to spend much more money on its statutory homeless duties. I don’t believe that’s any way to be treating its citizens.
It’s wonderful how much is done for any by the residents of O’Hanlon house and I really do hope that national and local funding won’t be reduced too much in the cuts that are going to have to be made because this is a really worthwhile service.
Every time I visit O’Hanlon house I am more and more impressed by its staff and users’ work and the friendly welcome I receive.
Street Pastors: Commissioning and our first night on Oxford’s Streets
What an exciting night! I was commissioned along with around a dozen other Oxford Street Pastors yesterday evening and New Road Baptist Church. We were addressed by DCI Colin Paine of Thames Valley Police and by Revd Paul Rush of the Ascension Trust, that sets up each Street Pastors Scheme. I’m pictured here with Ruth Wilson, a member of St. Columba’s United Reformed Church, like me. There were people from many local churches and denominations being inducted as Street Pastors. Rob and Gemma Winn from Wesley Memorial Church have worked very hard in setting up the scheme and we are very honoured to have Pearl Lewis from the Salvation Army as our coordinator.
We started at 10pm and walked around Cornmarket Street, George Street, Park End Street, Hythe Bridge Street, Frideswide Square and St. Ebbes. We met and spoke to lots of people. Many were just interested in what we were doing, some wanted to know where to find a cab, a few women had tired feet and had taken their shoes off and so were grateful for the Street Pastors flip-flops that we were handing out. One group of us got into a really deep conversation with someone about problems at home and were the first people this person had felt able to talk to about it. We picked up quite a few glass bottles off the street and put them in bins thereby reducing the likelihood of their causing injury or being used as weapons. We spoke to quite a few homeless people who seemed genuinely pleased of the conversation and attention. There were some humbling stories.
I think we successfully stopped a fight from happening by going up and chatting to a group of young men who I think had had one to many drinks. Street Pastors is not about breaking up fights – that the Police’s job – but it is amazing the effect seeing a person wearing a clear Street Pastors uniform has on people. They want to chat and their aggression just seems to evaporate. Quite the opposite reaction that people unfortunately sometimes have to the Police.
Towards the end of our session we met a very drunk young man who couldn’t stand up and was rather ill. We helped him, giving him water, and making sure his friends knew how to look after him and were not going to leave him. We finished around 3.45am after an incredibly rewarding evening. I can’t wait to go out again!
We were really grateful for the support of Karen Crossan, Oxford City Council’s nightsafe manager; and of Thames Valley Police for being so friendly and supportive. You may ask why I am writing about this in my council blog. Well apart from the fact that most of our pastoring happens in my ward, Carfax, I think doing things in the community, whether they be as a response to faith or not, is very important for councillors if we are to stay in touch with our constituents.
On a theological note, I think that doing things together with other denominations of Christians is extremely important and is absolutely the way we grow together in common understanding of our calling. Sure – we have differences of opinion on some things but I think we are all agreed that we are called to share God’s love, care and listening with all those we meet on the streets in our 10pm-4am sessions.
Gagging attempt by Labour City Council IT department? Or just a mistake?
I received a slide pack today to read thorough about the Council’s ICT policy. All councillors (members of Oxford City Council) are asked to sign it to say they will comply with it. I’m afraid I’m not happy about it at all.
Most of it is all good common-sense and common-decency stuff but there are two bits that worry me as a member of the council rather than an employee. The first is about privacy:
I am not at all sure I want council staff to be able to examine data that is confidential to political parties or worse, about constituents. Elected members work for our constituents, not the Council!
The other concern is about the blogging policy. I am of course more than happy not to divulge confidential information but this blog already has links to the council website and criticism of some council policies and decisions. As a representative of the people of Carfax Ward I feel it is entirely appropriate that I should be able to express those views in a public blog.
Us councillors are here to work for and represent you, our constituents. Our job is to represent you to the council as an organisation. It is NOT to represent the council to you!
I have made my concerns known to the Head of IT and will update this post if and when I get a reply.
The launch of the Blavatnik School of Government
I attended the launch of the Blavatnik School of Government today at the Examination Schools on the High Street in Oxford. It was a very grand affair and one of those cross-hat things where I am attending as a Councillor even though I’m also a member of The University of Oxford.
We had inspiring speeches by the Chancellor, Lord Patten of Barnes, the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Andy Hamilton, Leonard Blavatnik himself and Dr Ngaire Woods. We also had a pre-recorded video message from Bill Clinton. Lord Patten commented that the lighting in the room made it look rather like a nightclub and I have to say I agreed!
Proceedings then moved to the formal signing of the agreement to open to school and for Mr Blavatnik to give a record-breaking £75M towards the establishment of the school. This was followed by a reception which was an excellent chance to meet many foreign dignitaries and diplomats and many interesting academics. I also met and spoke to Oxford West and Abingdon’s new MP for the first time.
I really appreciate the opportunity to attend these events as a councillor. Next week I’m going to listen to concerns and issues at the wet (i.e. alcohol allowed) room of O’Hanlon House, an excellent project used by many of Oxford’s homeless folk. Oxford is an amazing City of contrasts and I find experiencing them first-hand very humbling.
Full Council: Core Strategy and New Executive Board Member
We had a full council meeting at 4pm today. It was primarily to discuss the council’s response to the Core Strategy. The leading group had tried to get our leader to jointly sign a letter with the leader but our group was of the view that this is far too important an issue to sign off behind closed doors so we asked for a full council meeting. The main areas of contention were the numbers of new houses in the strategy, whether the Northern Gateway should be included and whether the employment land allocation needs reviewing, in the light of how much land earmarked for employment use has been fallow for such a long time.
The amendments to the response proposed by our group were:
Delete “8,000 new homes” in line 2 and substitute with “9,000 new homes” to read:
(1) Endorse the housing figure in the Core Strategy of at least 9,000 new homes between 2006 and 2026 and confirm that this level of growth is considered appropriate in the absence of the target from the South East Plan
After point (1) insert the following paragraph:
Council urges the Leader and the two Members of Parliament for Oxford to campaign immediately for a recognition that the housing needs of Oxford City over the plan period cannot be met solely by building within the city; and that a mechanism to meet economic, social and environmental needs of the economic unit of which Oxfordshire and the neighbouring Local Planning Authorities (unitaries and District Councils) should be formed as a Local Economic Partnership.
and
After point (1) [and amendment 2] insert the following paragraph:
Council calls for a new employment land study to be undertaken before any targets for quantity and diversity of jobs are enshrined in the Core Strategy
The Labour group outvoted all these amendments and I must say I have never seen them quite so tetchy. I felt that the meeting was essential so that the Council’s response could be debated and voted on in public but unfortunately some administration members had said they thought it was “silly politics. The building and development plan for the next 20 years in Oxford doesn’t seem like that to me!
Healing in Carfax?
I was in town today doing chores and was slightly alarmed to find a group of Christians performing healing on Cornmarket Street.
This work is a partnership between Oxford Vineyard Church, St Aldates Church, Living Stones Community Church and Emmanuel Church. It happens in Oxford City Centre every Saturday from 1pm to 3pm according to the flyer.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am a committed Christian and entirely approve of taking faith out onto the streets (I am after all about to start serving as a street pastor) but I just feel slightly uncomfortable with the claims the flyer is implying about the healing. While I’m sure faith can cure serious diseases in some cases I can’t help thinking that this sort of open air practice, with a huge banner, rather belittles and trivialises all the medical research and treatments that there are into such terrible diseases. What do you think? Comments welcome on this post.
RIP Temple Cowley Pools
After about an hour of propaganda from the consultants and the council officers the City Executive Board (CEB) unanimously decided to close Temple Cowley Pools and sell off the site. This is a sad day for Oxford and I feel hugely sorry for the Save Temple Cowley Pools group, particularly Nigel and Jane, who have worked so hard and with such sincerity to try to save the pools. I was particularly disgusted at the way at least one member of CEB sat and scowled at those making such well-considered and serious points. I also didn’t think it was very polite of the member who arrived late to clomp through the room in extremely loud shoes not once but three times while a member of the public was trying to address CEB.
I also note here that Cllr Malik, councillor for Cowley Marsh,gave apologies and was absent from the meeting. What a shame there was nobody at the meeting to represent those who have Temple Cowley Pools at the heart of their ward.
The only good thing is that Stephen Brown (leader of our group) immediately called in the decision to the Value and Performance Scrutiny Committee of which he is chair. I don’t think it will change anything but it will at least give the CEB members some time to reflect on the gravity of their decision and the disastrous impact it will have on Temple Cowley and the surrounding area’s residents.
Lib Dem Group Meeting
Another group meeting tonight with lots on the agenda. We discussed the outcomes from a recent Group away day and our response to the Core Strategy that will direct planning and development control until 2026.
As usual we worked through the paper’s for next week’s City Executive Board. That promises to be a busy and controversial meeting as it will consider the future of Temple Cowley Pools.
I am really enjoying getting to know the new LibDem councillors since I was last on the Council in group meetings and I’m pleased to see good consensus building in the group on most issues and the very definite support for and confidence in our leader, Stephen Brown.