Blog Archives

WODC - Budget plans on track according to residents

31/1/2020

Residents have given their backing to a proposed increase in council tax.
An online consultation covering the Council’s Budget saw the majority (55 per cent) in favour of a £5 rise.

In general, 64 per cent of the 157 respondents said they felt the District’s council tax level was “about right” with 25 per cent saying it was too low.

About 60 per cent added that they would not prefer to see lower spending on services in return for a reduced council tax bill.

Respondents also remained supportive of maintaining grants to the voluntary sector with strong support for inflationary increases to fees and charges for core council services such as planning.

In the longer term, the vast majority of residents want to see the Council identify innovative ways to generate additional income while working with service partners such as Ubico, GLL and Publica to deliver efficiency savings was also popular.

Significantly, 49 per cent said they only wanted to see the council move away from investments in fossil fuels if the same return could be achieved in other areas.

Cllr Toby Morris, Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “The feedback we have had through this survey is invaluable and will shape how we develop our financial strategy going forward.

“We have had an excellent response and look forward to delivering a balanced and fair Budget which continues to deliver benefits for our community.”

The Budget will be considered for recommendation by the Council’s Cabinet on 12 February before going before full Council on 26 February for final approval.

WODC - Garden Waste Service

31/1/2020

From Friday 7 February, residents will be able to sign up for this year’s garden waste collection service. The service will run from 1 April to 31 March 2021. The price remains at £30 per bin per year.

Existing customers can expect to receive an email reminding them to sign up, and all other households will be sent a letter.

Please can I ask you to display the attached poster where beneficial. Any questions regarding the service can be directed to customer.services@westoxon.gov.uk or by calling 01993 861000

Thames Valley Police - Appeal For Witnesses Following A Burglary In Aston

29/1/2020

Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following a burglary in Aston.

Between around noon and 2.30 pm on Tuesday, 28 January 2020 offenders gained entry to a home in Woodbridge Close and another on the Square.

Once inside offenders stole the keys for the vehicles on the driveways. The vehicles stolen were a Seat Leon and a BMW.

Investigating officer Sergeant, Lorna Briggs of the Area CID hub based at Witney Police Station said, “We are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have information to call our 24-hour enquiry centre on: 101, quoting references: 43200030868/43200031683.

If you don’t want to speak directly to police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on: 0800 555 111. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

For more advice on how to keep your home safe, visit the Thames Valley Police website: www.thamesvaley.police.uk/advice/protecting-home-home-and-belongings

WODC - Residents urged to use an official waste carrier or face a fine

24/1/2020

Residents are being reminded of their responsibilities when it comes to waste disposal.
Government legislation stipulates that only authorised collectors can be used to take away waste that is not being removed as part of normal household collections.

Examples include old appliances and waste generated from a DIY project or a house clearance.

Collection services are often advertised on social media sites but the operators may not have the correct authorisation.

If residents fail to check their collector’s credentials, they could face a fixed penalty notice of up to £400.
Cllr Norman MacRae, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “Many people may not be aware but as well as prosecuting unregistered carriers who may be fly tipping in the District, those that hired them in the first place could be fined.

“Fly tipping is a scourge on the environment and will not be tolerated. Anyone condoning it, whether they are aware of the legislation or not, will be dealt with accordingly.”

The new fines have been introduced as an amendment to the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Residents can check whether a waste carrier is registered at
https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers

The fixed penalty notice of £400 will be reduced to £200 provided payment is made within 10 days of the notice being issued.

The move to issue fixed penalty notices was recommended at a meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday 15 January and will be considered by fully Council on 22 January.

NHS - Patients urged to help the NHS help them this winter

24/1/2020

Winter is traditionally the busiest time of year for the NHS, and so patients are being reminded to only use Emergency Departments in Oxford and Banbury in an emergency.
There are a range of alternative options available for non-emergency situations to ensure you get the appropriate care you need, and save an unnecessary trip to the Emergency Department.
What’s available?
·      Self-care is the best choice for minor illnesses and injuries – a range of common winter ailments can be treated at home with a well-stocked medicine cabinet. Having a winter plan – such as keeping stocked up on medicines, keeping your home warm, and looking out for neighbours – can also be beneficial.

·      Local pharmacies can give advice on several conditions, such as coughs, headaches, upset stomachs and skin conditions, as well as advise on stopping coughs and colds from getting worse.

·      NHS 111 has call handlers who can help you choose the right health services for your needs, as well as a website.   NHS 111 can put you in touch with a clinician, a GP, book you an appointment at your nearest minor injuries unit. You can also use NHS 111 online 111.nhs.uk

·      Minor injuries units can treat deep cuts, small burns, sprains, sports injuries, and infected wounds. To find out your nearest MIU please visit the Oxford Health website

·      Your local GP may offer extended opening hours into the evening or at the weekend.
Most importantly, only attend Emergency Departments when there is a genuine emergency, such as loss of consciousness, suspected heart attack or stroke, severe breathing difficulties, or severe bleeding that cannot be stopped.
For more information see here

WODC - Call to ban dumping of sewage in rivers

24/1/2020

Councillors have called on the Government to ban dumping of sewage in rivers.
A motion proposed by Cabinet Member for the Environment, Cllr Norman MacRae and Cllr Steve Good was approved at a full meeting of West Oxfordshire District Council last Wednesday.

Cllr MacRae said: “Dumping sewage in our beautiful rivers is unacceptable no matter what the weather or the circumstances are.

“Clearly this practice puts residents’ health at risk and prevents them from being able to swim and fish as and when they want to and that is why it should be stopped as soon as possible.”
Cllr MacRae added that a letter will now be written to Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers calling for legislation to be set in place by the end of the year to prohibit the release of untreated sewage into rivers.

Witney Town Council recently issued a warning after sewage spilled into streams following heavy rainfall in the lead up to Christmas and sewage fungus has been reported in the Colwell Brook and Emma's Dyke, discharged from the nearby Thames Water sewage treatment works.

Under current legislation, Thames Water has a permit regulated by the Environment Agency to release sewage into rivers when its system is under strain following periods of heavy rainfall, for example.

WODC - Keep ditches clear landowners urged

24/1/2020

Landowners are being reminded of their responsibilities to keep roadside ditches clear.
Operatives working for West Oxfordshire District Council are now working with Oxfordshire County Council staff to identify ditches that are not being maintained and are causing roads to flood.

Cllr Norman MacRae, Cabinet Member for the Environment at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We have had a huge amount of rainfall over the last few months and that is why routine maintenance is so important.

“Ditches and minor watercourses are the first line of defence against localised flooding which will become worse with the effects of climate change. They should be regularly cleared by landowners during the autumn and winter months.”

West Oxfordshire District Council has just completed its annual ditch clearance on land it owns.
Every year more than five kilometres of ditches are cleared of vegetation, silt and litter which have built up over the last year by workers from Ubico, the Council’s maintenance company.
Areas cleared include parts of Bampton and Carterton as well as Madley Brook and Judd’s Close in Witney
The work, which is part of a flood prevention programme set up following the 2007 floods, is in addition to routine inspections of known problematic pinch points, culvert inlets and critical drainage systems.
For more information on how to report a flood, see https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/residents/environment/flooding/ or call the Flood Risk Management Team on 01993 861000

WODC - Housing project shortlisted for prestigious national housing award

24/1/2020

West Oxfordshire’s ‘Our house’ community housing project has been shortlisted as a finalist in the prestigious Tpas Awards.

Run by Cottsway Housing in partnership with West Oxfordshire District Council, the project supports single, under-35s who are in housing and employment need. They join Our house as ‘trainees’, living together in a house provided by Cottsway and are given support to get back into employment, education or training.
It was announced yesterday (22 January) that the project has been shortlisted in the Employment, Training and Skills Project category of awards run by Tpas, the country’s leading tenant engagement experts.

The Awards recognise excellent tenant engagement and best practice in the housing sector and winners will be revealed at a ceremony taking place on March 27 at the Principal Hotel, Manchester.

Our house started in 2018 and already has two successful shared houses in Witney supporting seven trainees, with a third house on the way this year. The project has been funded with support from the government’s Community Housing Fund.

Sam Stronach, Cottsway’s Our house project co-ordinator, said: “We have worked really hard to make sure that Our house is about much more than just putting a roof over heads and we’re really proud of what’s already been achieved.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have been shortlisted for this award, especially because there were many entries. It means so much because these awards recognise work that brings lasting change to communities.”

Cllr Steve Good, Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “This is a truly innovative joint venture scheme which continues to make a life-changing different to a growing number of young people in the district and deserves this recognition.

“I am delighted and very proud it has been shortlisted and wish the team all the best for the final in March.”

To find out more about Our house, see www.cottsway.co.uk/our-house/. Alternatively, email communities@cottsway.co.uk or call Sam Stronach via 01993 890000.

To find out about the Tpas Awards, see www.tpasawards.org.uk/

WODC - Grants for community projects now available

18/1/2020

Grant funding that supports the important work done by local community and voluntary groups in West Oxfordshire, is now open for 2020-21 applications.
West Oxfordshire District Council’s Community Revenue Grant offers a cash boost to a range of projects and activities that benefit its residents, for example, helping to meet expenditure and covering on-going running costs such as staffing and administration.
Cllr Michele Mead, Cabinet Member responsible for grants, said: “West Oxfordshire benefits hugely from a strong voluntary and community sector. Our grant support helps foster the important impact community activities have in maintaining the quality of life for our residents.”
Grants are awarded to support a diverse range of activities from environmental work through to volunteer activity. The work must support the Council’s own priorities.
Two schemes that benefited from a Community Revenue Grant last year are the Lower Windrush Valley Project (LWVP) and Age UK.
The LWVP works closely with mineral operators, landowners and the local community to co-ordinate a range of nature conservation, land management and public access initiatives throughout the valley.
Age UK undertakes community development work in the District to create opportunities that enable older people to maintain their independence, stay healthy and feel less lonely, whilst also building new volunteering roles.
Stephen Mott, Age UK locality manager for the District, said: “The grant funding from WODC has been very important in helping to bring a wide range of activities to the people of West Oxfordshire from computer skills lessons to competitive ten pin bowling.
“Thanks to this funding, Age UK Oxfordshire has been able to create and sustain a variety of events aimed at bringing people together.”
Further information about the Community Revenue Grant is available at www.westoxon.gov.uk/residents/leisure/community-leisure-grants/
The closing date for applications is Friday 7 February 2020.

WODC - Residents asked to highlight their priorities for Council budget

8/1/2020

West Oxfordshire District Council is asking residents for their views on how it should prioritise its spending over the next year.

The Council is currently preparing its annual budget for 2020-21 and is consulting on proposals to increase council tax by an annual average of £5.

Cllr Toby Morris, Cabinet Member for Resources, said “Every year we review our spending and our priorities can change – for example, this year we intend to plough more resources into tackling climate change.
“We want to know what residents consider to be the areas most important to them from recycling and waste to free parking and leisure provision.
“That way we can shape our Budget and spend on the areas that are most important to the majority of people while also continuing to be one of the most efficient councils in the country.”
The Council is also preparing an updated Council Plan which sets out its priorities over the next four years. This will be set against a backdrop of uncertainty concerning central government funding levels.
The consultation contains a proposal to increase council tax for residents by an average of £5 a year to ensure current service provision can be maintained and improved.
The survey can be completed online at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/6NF6JDW

The deadline for completion is 26 January 2020.

Alternatively, residents can send written comments to:
Jenny Poole - Chief Finance Officer, West Oxfordshire District Council
Elmfield
New Yatt Road
Witney
Oxon OX28 1PB

<<Previous

WODC - Budget plans on track according to residents

WODC - Garden Waste Service

Thames Valley Police - Appeal For Witnesses Following A Burglary In Aston

WODC - Residents urged to use an official waste carrier or face a fine

NHS - Patients urged to help the NHS help them this winter

WODC - Call to ban dumping of sewage in rivers

WODC - Keep ditches clear landowners urged

WODC - Housing project shortlisted for prestigious national housing award

WODC - Grants for community projects now available

WODC - Residents asked to highlight their priorities for Council budget

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