STEVEN Bennett (June 9) accuses me of a ‘divide and conquer’ attitude to rent reviews in Oxford’s Covered Market.
The truth is that the idea of having a more flexible approach to rent reviews has been a direct response to traders’ frustration at the way rent reviews have been conducted in the past and the damaging impact this has had on relations between the city council and traders. The aim is to have a more constructive system rather than one which weakens traders’ negotiating powers.
The cross-party group which commissioned the review into the Covered Market, and of which I was a part, acknowledged that there had been failings by successive administrations: Labour, Liberal Democrat and Lib Dem/Green coalition in managing the Covered Market.
Having a Labour councillor as Covered Market champion at least means that I have the advantage of being in the best position to influence the city council budget. As such, I intend to do all I can to make sure that funds are provided to make real improvements to the Covered Market and to secure its future.
Cllr MARY CLARKSON
Marston Ward
Oxford City Council
Dunstan Road
Headington
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