New council leader spells out his party's priorities

9:56am Friday 25th May 2007

The new leader of Brighton and Hove council today sets out his vision for the city.

Brian Oxley, who was confirmed as council leader at a meeting last night, told The Argus his priorities for the coming four years were to:

• Keep council tax rises under inflation without resorting to painful cuts
• Review Labour's plans for a rapid transport bus system while reexamining the monorail project
• Revisit the controversial school lottery scheme which has divided the city
• Push for underground car parks in new developments to ensure extra homes do not add pressure to the already overstretched road network, and
• Concentrate on delivering less congestion by removing build-outs while putting plans for a park and ride on the back burner.
• Coun Oxley said: "This new administration will take the city forward."

The Conservatives have formed a minority administration with 26 seats - two short of the 28 required for an overall majority.

And at last night's annual meeting, at which the new mayor, Carol Theobald, was confirmed, the Tory group faced their first difficult vote.

Coun Oxley's plans to introduce three new committees were passed but the proposal was opposed by the Greens and Lib Dems while Labour abstained.

Opposition parties are already warning that the Conservatives' transport plans will lead to gridlock and more pollution while the council tax pledge will require far-reaching cuts to services.

Labour group leader Gill Mitchell said: "While wishing the new Conservative administration well, we do remain concerned that prior to the local elections they did not reveal any spending plans and made few definite commitments.

"Where this has happened in other authorities, after taking control the Conservatives have made wide-ranging cuts to care services for the vulnerable and significant increases in charges for things like residents' parking permits and meals on wheels.

"We will oppose any such moves, along with any plans to increase the speed and volume of traffic in the city centre and the building of car parks on the city's open spaces."