Oxfordshire County Labour Party Press Releases

Local Elections Postponed Until June

Cllr Brian Hodgson, Leader of the Labour Group, has said that the decision to postpone the 3 May elections until 7 June shows that the government is sensitive to the plight of areas hit hardest by the foot and mouth outbreak, and most importantly, listens without prejudice.

Cllr Hodgson said: “I think it’s important that farmers and communities in counties affected by the disease feel that their problems are the government’s priority at the moment. A June poll allows local and national tiers of government to continue to focus on the outbreak at a crucial turning point. However, we must be careful not to undermine democratic representation, the work of the county council and the local economy by calls for further delay”.

The first meeting of the County Councils Network Rural Task Force takes place on Wednesday, 4 April. Cllr Brian Hodgson, at whose instigation the Task Force was set up, said: “We will discuss the impact of the foot and mouth outbreak on the delivery of county services and appropriate recovery measures. I will take with me background information on Oxfordshire provided by the Trading Standards Officer, David Sibbert and his team of officers from other council departments”.

Cllr Hodgson is anxious to hear from any members of the local community who are affected by, or who have ideas about the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

ENDS