IN his angry tirade (‘Provision of Housing was not on the agenda’, November 27, 2014), Cllr Hollick has missed my point that I want him to do a better job of scrutinising council decisions.

That he misses the point is unfortunate given he is Green Party leader and sits on the scrutiny committee.

I regret Cllr Hollick did not ask hard questions about housing to the planner attending the Westgate section of that scrutiny meeting. He may have learned that the Westgate development is a pathway to affordable housing, with 15 per cent of the sales value of new houses going towards two- and three-bed homes which meet the needs of the highest priority families on the waiting list.

I represent Caroline Lucas’ old ward on the city council. As you’d expect, I talk to a few Green Party voters on their doorsteps. One reason people vote for the Green Party is to check Oxford’s Labour-run council and shape its policy.

I respect that motive. I hope Cllr Hollick now begins to act as voters would want and scrutinise the council, not chase headlines.

This letter should close the matter. As I said in my letter calling out Cllr Hollick’s scurry to attack the council in the press, but not formal meetings (where scrutiny shapes policy), councillors have more effective uses of their time.

Cllr Tom Hayes (Labour)
City Councillor for St Clement's

Today’s letters


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