Oxford bus users who have an issue with the city council had a direct line to the top this week in the form of new chief executive Peter Sloman.

Mr Sloman took up the top post this week, with an advertised salary of £115,000, and has been getting the lowdown on city issues by chatting to passengers on his bus ride to work from East Oxford.

The 47-year-old, married, father of two is enjoying the ride so much he has even put his motor up for sale and wants to become car-free.

Mr Sloman, who has spent the last seven years as chief executive of High Peak District Council in Derbyshire, said getting to know the city was one of his first priorities.

And while Oxford may not have the the hills of the Peak District, he certainly faces some tough challenges over the coming months, including overseeing a major reorganisation of council departments and helping shake off the authority's 'weak' rating.

He said: "What I am dedicated to is trying to ensure the city council offers people value for money.

"That means being as efficient and effective as we can and being responsive to what matters to local people.

"My job is to make sure the council achieves its aims of keeping council tax increases affordable and accelerating the pace of improvement."

The council will ask the Government to reassess its performance next year and hopes to improve on its current 'weak' rating.

But although Mr Sloman's track record on that issue, coming from an 'excellent' rated authority that won the Local Government Chronicle's council of the year award - is good, he said accolades were not the be-all and end-all.

He said: "I don't believe in chasing awards for the sake of it, what local people want to see is service improvements.

"The biggest award is surveying the public, satisfaction ratings increasing and needs being met like the need for affordable housing."

When he is not driving the council forward, Mr Sloman hopes to be driving balls on the golf course or playing tennis.

He is also a keen classical and contemporary music fan and is looking forward to the opening of the Carling Academy, the former Zodiac Club, in Cowley Road.

City council leader John Goddard hoped Mr Sloman's arrival would herald a period of stability at the top.

He said: "We have had an interim chief executive for eight months who did a great job, before that we had two chief executives who were not here long enough.

"We were delighted to have got Peter Sloman."