West Oxfordshire District Council has boosted its commitment to tackling climate change.A new £20,000 fund will be made available to residents this winter to help make their homes more energy efficient.
A biannual report on climate action presented at a full Council meeting on Wednesday goes on to highlight how tackling climate change is a key priority for the Council and a focus of its Covid-19 Recovery Plan.
A project to fast track the assessment of energy performance and sustainability of Council-owned offices has also been agreed. This will contribute to future decisions made by the Council on office space designed to be fit for the future.
Climate action is also now the ‘golden thread’ woven into the draft Area Action Plan at Salt Cross Garden Village. These draft planning policies expect exemplary standards for all new development, both residential and non-residential.
Climate action and sustainability standards have also been captured within the recent consultation draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for Affordable Housing.
Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, said: “We have taken great strides in a very short time when it comes to delivering our commitment to tackling climate change. Climate action underpins the Council’s decision making.
“We must ensure we continue to work as hard as we possibly can both now and in the long term so that we can lead by example and make a difference that will genuinely help shape the District for future generations.
“It is clear from the widespread engagement with our recent Climate Action Survey and from the art we received from young people entering our climate action competition that climate change is widely felt to be an important issue. We are harnessing this in our Carbon Action Plan and Climate Change Strategy, which are now taking shape.”
The Council has a public-facing Climate Action Network and database of people looking to engage with its work on Climate Action. If you would like to add your details to this database, please email: [email protected]

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Oxford residents are being urged to help stop the spread of coronavirus as the number of cases in the city increases.


Over the most recent week up to 24 July, the number of new cases in Oxford has risen approximately threefold to 31. The majority of these new cases has been in East Oxford.


Oxfordshire’s Director of Public Health Ansaf Azhar explains: "Local increases are to be expected as we ease out of lockdown, particularly in densely populated urban areas. This is consistent with the picture across other parts of the country, and Oxford is no exception."


But with more events and gatherings set to take place over the coming weeks, such as Eid celebrations and a range of fairs across Oxfordshire, the Director of Public Health is keen to stress the need for everyone to maintain social distancing and stay alert.


"It is up to each of us to stop the virus spreading - our safety is literally in our own hands. Make sure you wash your hands regularly, avoid busy gatherings, keep your distance and wear a face covering where appropriate. And if you have any coronavirus symptoms, you must self-isolate immediately and call 119 to book a test.


"By taking these simple measures, we can protect ourselves and our communities. But we need to act now to stop the spread.


"We have seen other towns, such as Luton and Northampton, put local control measures in place when faced with a spike in cases, such as limiting the number of people who can meet. We are not yet in this position. But we are monitoring the situation very closely and we will put measures in place if the number of new cases continues to rise.


"We have clear systems in place through our Local Outbreak Plans to manage any local transmission hotspots. However, prevention is by far the best way to manage the situation, and the public have a vital role to play in preventing local outbreaks. My advice is simple – act now to protect yourself, protect your community, and stop the spread."
Director of Public Health, Ansaf Azhar is available for interviews. Please email Oxfordshire County Council's Press Office for more information
URL : http://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/oxford-residents-urged-to-follow-social-distancing-to-avoid-local-control-measures/

Local residents are being warned not to lose their voice on decisions that affect them by making sure their electoral registration details are up to date.

With 17 seats on West Oxfordshire District Council up for election along with County Council, Parish Council and Police and Crime Commissioner elections on 6 May 2021, this is an important opportunity for residents to make sure they can take part.

The annual canvass ensures that the Council can keep the electoral register up to date, identifying any residents who are not registered so that they can be encouraged to do so. 
Over the next few weeks residents will be receiving a letter encouraging them to check their details and update them if necessary.
Keith Butler, Electoral Registration Officer at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We are now in the process of writing to all households. It’s vital for residents to make sure their details are accurate and to ensure they respond where they need to. We want to make sure that every eligible resident in the District has the right to vote.  
 “If you’re not currently registered, your name will not appear in the messages we send. If you want to register, the easiest way is online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, or we’ll send you information explaining how to do this in the post.
“This year’s canvass, which we have to carry out by law, is taking place during a challenging public health situation. We are working to ensure that we take account of public health guidelines, including the continued importance of social distancing.” 
People who have moved recently are particularly encouraged to look out for the voter registration messages from the Council and check the details. 
Research by the Electoral Commission indicates that recent home movers are far less likely to be registered than those who have lived at the same address for a long time. Across Great Britain, 92 per cent of people who have been at their property for more than 16 years will be registered, compared to 36 per cent of people who have lived at an address for less than one year.
Melanie Davidson, Head of Support and Improvement at the Electoral Commission, said: “It’s really important that everyone who is entitled to vote is able to do so. Making sure you provide the necessary information to your local authority when it is needed will ensure the process runs smoothly. This is particularly helpful in the current public health situation, as it will help avoid the need for home visits from canvassers.
“There’s lots of helpful information about registering to vote on our website: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter.”
Any residents who have any questions can contact their local registration team on 01993 861410 or fill out a general inquiry form here:
https://community.westoxon.gov.uk/s/general-enquiry
Find out more about electoral registration and the annual canvass here: 
https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/about-the-council/elections-and-voting/register-to-vote/

For the first time in the history of the Census, there will be a question on service in the Armed Forces following a campaign led by The Royal British Legion and Poppyscotland and supported by West Oxfordshire District Council.

The Government has announced the 2021 Census will now include a question to provide information on whether someone has served in HM Armed Forces, following legislation passed last month.
The Royal British Legion, which led the campaign, is at the heart of a national network offering a range of support and services to the Armed Forces community.
The decision to include the question on the 2021 census will provide the Legion, as well as public bodies, local authorities and other military charities with valuable information to ensure they can best meet the needs of serving personnel, veterans and their families.
It has been estimated that there are 2.4 million veterans currently living in Great Britain , who make up part of a wider ex-Service community which includes their spouses, partners, dependent children and widow(er)s.
However, little is currently known about the exact numbers, location and needs of this significant group. Including an Armed Forces question in the next census would provide public bodies, local authorities, and charities with valuable information to ensure they are able to deliver the best services they can for our Armed Forces community.
Cllr Nick Leverton, Armed Forces Champion at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “Having a better understanding of the profile and needs of veterans in the District is a key part of making sure our services are tailored for serving personnel, veterans and their families. I welcome this historic change to include a question on the Armed Forces to the 2021 Census.”
Charles Byrne, Director General of The Royal British Legion, said: “This is an extremely proud moment for the Legion. After leading a successful campaign, the fact that a military question will be in the 2021 Census will significantly improve our understanding of the Armed Forces community which up until now has been very limited.
“It will ensure that we, along with other charities and service providers, can deliver the best service possible to them when and where it is needed most.
“This is something we have been striving towards for many years, it will have a huge impact on service personnel, veterans and their families well into the future, as the outcome will allow us to provide more effective care and support to those who are in need. We are delighted and are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported the campaign and helped us to achieve this historical success”
Residents can find out more about the campaign by visiting the campaign website, www.rbl.org.uk/campaigns, or by posting their own pledge of support on social media using the #CountThemIn hashtag.
‘Count Them In’ is part of The Royal British Legion’s ongoing campaign work to help champion the interests, welfare, and contributions of the Armed Forces Community.

The results of our Climate Action Survey are in and paint a revealing picture of how residents are tackling environmental issues and how they want the Council to help them do more.

A total of 446 people responded to the online questionnaire of which an overwhelming 334 said climate change was a high priority for them.

Residents said they were already taking action with the most popular being gardening for wildlife and changing what food and drink they were buying. Least popular was driving an electric vehicle, reflecting their current expense and worries over driving range.
In terms of how the Council is tackling the Climate Emergency, 241 said they had “some knowledge” of its work. 
Top priorities for residents are biodiversity and a green transport infrastructure while the least important area is the reduction and recycling of waste, perhaps highlighting the success of the Council’s existing waste and recycling collection service.
Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, said: “To have so many people engaging with this survey was extremely encouraging and shows how strongly people feel about the environment and tackling climate change which is why it is a key priority for us.
“We have learned a lot from this exercise and it will help us shape our Climate Change Strategy going forward.”
As a result of the survey, a large database of people looking to engage with the Council’s work on Climate Action has been formed.
If people would like to add their details to this database, they should email [email protected]
Anyone wanting to see more detail on the survey and the Council’s work on Climate Action should see:
https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/environment/climate-action/climate-action-and-what-we-are-doing/

Following feedback from residents, shoppers and businesses, Welch Way and the lower High Street in Witney will be reopened to traffic.

The closure was made as part of changes to the town centre to make social distancing easier during Covid-19.

But analysis has revealed that footfall in the lower High Street remains too low to justify the closure and businesses such as Huffkins cafe as well as shoppers will now benefit from the easier access.
Cllr James Mills, Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We have always made it clear that we will adapt these temporary measures in the light of experience.
“We have listened to residents and businesses, looked at the number of people in the lower High Street and decided to lift the restrictions. We will continue to monitor the situation and adapt accordingly.”
Changes made to the upper High Street and Market Square are working well with pedestrian flows recovering, justifying the measures introduced to aid social distancing.

Plans are being put in place to introduce a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) in West Oxfordshire.

The CIL is a charge placed on development such as new homes and extensions to homes according to their floor area – it only applies to buildings with an internal area of 100 square metres or more.

It is designed to help fund local infrastructure such as transport, flood defences, schools, green space and community and cultural facilities.
CIL is intended to complement the current system of Section 106 planning obligations which provide infrastructure funding
Proposed CIL charges are set out in a document called a ‘charging schedule’ and a consultation has been launched
It is running alongside another consultation on the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which outlines to developers, housing providers and communities how we will continue to deliver and increase the number of affordable homes in the future.
Cllr Jeff Haine, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, said: “With any development we want to maximise the opportunities to provide decent infrastructure and facilities for residents.
“Once adopted, CIL will be another way of ensuring these things are in place and benefiting communities.”
Anyone wanting more details should see:
https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/planning-and-building/community-infrastructure-levy/community-infrastructure-levy-examination/
Those wishing to take part in the consultation should email their views to [email protected] or post them to:
Planning Policy Team, West Oxfordshire District Council, Elmfield, New Yatt Road, Witney OX28 1PB. The closing date is 21 August.

More than 100 public bins are being replaced across the District.

A rolling programme has been launched by the council which will see both litter and dog waste bins replaced by our waste contractor Ubico.

First to be upgraded were those in Witney including Church Green and the move has been welcomed by Cllr Norman MacRae, Cabinet Member for the Environment.
He said: “These new bins will really encourage people to dispose of their litter and dog waste responsibly and I believe they will have a positive impact on our environment across the District.
“But if they are full please ensure you take your waste home rather than dumping it on the ground for everyone’s benefit.”