"Excellent" Rating for Oxfordshire County

12.00.00am GMT Mon 5th Mar 2007

I and my fellow Liberal Democrat colleagues, were very pleased to hear that Oxfordshire County Council has been rated "excellent" by the Audit Commission. However, this has not been easy and has been the result of hard work over a number of years by members from all political parties as well as our dedicated staff.

Indeed, I would like to congratulate all the staff of the County Council, whether providing front-line services to residents or beavering away in the back office, unnoticed and often unthanked. I believe that everyone who works for the County Council genuinely wishes to "serve the community" and they can take a great pride in their efforts being recognised.

Whilst not wishing to detract in any way from the thanks due to our excellent staff, who certainly deserve the majority of any credit going, it is clear that this rating would not have been achieved without the joint efforts put in by the previous Conservative/Lib Dem administration. I was not Leader of the Liberal Democrats at the time, but still feel that I need not refrain from congratulating my councillor colleagues who played their part in that administration setting the county on the path towards improvement. We shall look forward to seeing that improvement continues.

Cllr Zoé Patrick