The problem with tough talk is that it leads, naturally, to an expectation of action.

Oxford City Council has set a ‘cap’ of “allowing” each of our universities to have 3,000 students living outside university-provided accommodation, under threat of not being allowed to open any new buildings.

Council deputy leader Ed Turner stated quite clearly that the authority would back up this stance with firm action.

This played well with certain residents’ groups, who clearly object to the number of students living in private accommodation among them.

But now comes the dilemma. A new report shows both universities are over their cap but are making significant strides towards cutting the numbers to comply with the targets.

So what does the city council do now? Praise the universities, or punish them? The report offers a fair bit of the former but is silent on the latter.

It must also be remembered that we are a proud university city and both organisations will naturally seek to expand, now and in the future.

The alternative is stagnation or decline and nobody wants that.

The difficult bit is how to support that expansion while keeping residents happy.

It’s a tough balancing act and the fear is that, by laying down ultimatums, the council has painted itself into a corner on this one.

Mr Turner is now damned if he does and equally damned if he doesn’t.