Colin Cook Labour: Jericho and Osney
Reading through the manifesto, which I absolutely agree with. Would the café like further evidence of how I currently achieve the outcomes listed in the manifesto?
Just wanted to drop you a quick email, to confirm I will be putting together a manifesto together, which should be ready in the next few days.
I also intend to stand in the county council election, but note the manifesto seems geared towards the city elections.
Susanna Pressel Labour: Jericho and Osney
To the Oxford Democracy Café
Thank you for all you are doing to promote democracy in Oxford and to raise awareness of the existence of councillors. It’s clear to me that I am elected to represent the people in my ward and I do a lot to keep in touch with people, but sadly some residents seem to throw away anything that mentions “the Council” or some such, so your help is invaluable.
I hold drop-in surgeries twice a month, open to everyone without an appointment. These are well advertised and have been at the same time and place (the two community centre cafes) for 24 years now. In spite of that many people don’t remember about them. I organise public meetings and do my best to attend all those organised by others in my ward, whether large or small. I produce regular newsletters and try always to contribute to the newsletters and email groups in my ward that are produced by others. I also try to drop into local pubs as another way of meeting people – and sometimes relaxing with them… .I am a governor of the two schools in my ward, because this is also a way of keeping in touch with people. My main aim is always to make it clear to all the diverse elements and interests in my ward that I am available to help where I can, usually directly but sometimes by signposting people to other sources of help.
One of the things I publicise regularly is my councillors’ ward budget, telling people what I have spent it on so far and always appealing for groups to apply for a share of the money. I also approach various groups and organisations to ask if they need money.
One of the main ways in which I keep in touch with the people I represent is by regular door-knocking. In the run-up to an election (and we have them three years out of four) I aim to speak to everyone in the ward, or at least someone in every household, with the exception of the students who live in, since we are not supposed to canvass in the colleges (we contact them in other ways). I try to go to every property repeatedly until I have caught someone at home. Whenever no-one is there, I drop in a card to say that I have been and to encourage them to get in touch with me. I really enjoy this regular personal contact.
I played a major part in setting up the Citizens’ Assembly on climate change and I’m proud of what OCC is achieving. I have looked closely at the resulting recommendations and I am scrutinising our progress in implementing them. I am also trying to push the County Council to go further and faster.
I do try to work cross-party, but I find it quite difficult, knowing that some opposition activists, councillors and candidates campaign vigorously against me, especially at election time. I recognise that it is important to co-operate for the common good.
Reading through the manifesto, which I absolutely agree with. Would the café like further evidence of how I currently achieve the outcomes listed in the manifesto?
Just wanted to drop you a quick email, to confirm I will be putting together a manifesto together, which should be ready in the next few days.
I also intend to stand in the county council election, but note the manifesto seems geared towards the city elections.
Susanna Pressel Labour: Jericho and Osney
To the Oxford Democracy Café
Thank you for all you are doing to promote democracy in Oxford and to raise awareness of the existence of councillors. It’s clear to me that I am elected to represent the people in my ward and I do a lot to keep in touch with people, but sadly some residents seem to throw away anything that mentions “the Council” or some such, so your help is invaluable.
I hold drop-in surgeries twice a month, open to everyone without an appointment. These are well advertised and have been at the same time and place (the two community centre cafes) for 24 years now. In spite of that many people don’t remember about them. I organise public meetings and do my best to attend all those organised by others in my ward, whether large or small. I produce regular newsletters and try always to contribute to the newsletters and email groups in my ward that are produced by others. I also try to drop into local pubs as another way of meeting people – and sometimes relaxing with them… .I am a governor of the two schools in my ward, because this is also a way of keeping in touch with people. My main aim is always to make it clear to all the diverse elements and interests in my ward that I am available to help where I can, usually directly but sometimes by signposting people to other sources of help.
One of the things I publicise regularly is my councillors’ ward budget, telling people what I have spent it on so far and always appealing for groups to apply for a share of the money. I also approach various groups and organisations to ask if they need money.
One of the main ways in which I keep in touch with the people I represent is by regular door-knocking. In the run-up to an election (and we have them three years out of four) I aim to speak to everyone in the ward, or at least someone in every household, with the exception of the students who live in, since we are not supposed to canvass in the colleges (we contact them in other ways). I try to go to every property repeatedly until I have caught someone at home. Whenever no-one is there, I drop in a card to say that I have been and to encourage them to get in touch with me. I really enjoy this regular personal contact.
I played a major part in setting up the Citizens’ Assembly on climate change and I’m proud of what OCC is achieving. I have looked closely at the resulting recommendations and I am scrutinising our progress in implementing them. I am also trying to push the County Council to go further and faster.
I do try to work cross-party, but I find it quite difficult, knowing that some opposition activists, councillors and candidates campaign vigorously against me, especially at election time. I recognise that it is important to co-operate for the common good.
