OXFORDSHIRE County Council has faced savage cuts from their own Tory Government. But the Conservative-run council don’t do a lot to help themselves or the Oxfordshire public.

Now is the obvious time to take buses permanently out of Queen Street. Instead Henley councillor, David Nimmo Smith, insists on bringing the dangerous buses back into this busy Oxford shopping street.

An Oxford workplace parking levy would bring much needed cash for local transport improvements.

But the county Cabinet kicks the idea into the long grass until after next year’s County Council elections.

The Cabinet have at last recognised the need for business transformation. They recruited an expert to advise on making the county more efficient. He ‘left’ after only three months in post.

The Oxfordshire public struggle with closing childrens’ centres, reduced bus routes and underfunded services for elderly people.

So the Tories spend £16,000 on yet another Cabinet member, Cllr Steve Harrod. He’d better be worth the money.

It really is time the county council got a grip.

Cllr JOHN TANNER (Labour)

Littlemore ward and Isis division

City Council Board Member for a Clean and Green Oxford

Sunningwell Road

Oxford