Archive for category: News

A note from Oxfordshire County Council:

“On 8 February 2022, Oxfordshire County Council will meet to agree its budget. In a survey we are asking residents, businesses and others for their views on our budget proposals for 2022/23, including our proposed council tax increase.

Following the local elections in May 2021, the Oxfordshire Fair Deal Alliance formed to lead the county council. It has a vision to lead positive change to make Oxfordshire a greener, fairer county. It has developed nine priorities to deliver this aim and over the autumn has been inviting feedback on these to inform the budget setting process and to help develop a draft strategic plan.

You can have your say on these priorities as part of our consultation on our 2022/23 budget proposals to help the council set a balanced budget.

Background

The council is committed to the responsible management of the council’s finances. To reach our goal of a balanced budget for 2022/23, we are planning ahead carefully to meet current and future financial challenges. We are also working on identifying savings across the council to enable us to invest in our priorities and meet our demand pressures.

Challenges include uncertainty over government funding for all local authorities, the ongoing impact of COVID-19 that continues to place pressures on the county council’s day to day services and affect its income streams, alongside a growing and ageing population, which puts more pressure on budgets and services.

Our accompanying consultation booklet provides background information on the council’s finances and our approach to setting the budget this year. We encourage you to read this before having your say. We also recommend you read our budget proposals that will be discussed by the Performance and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 10 December 2021

Please complete this survey to have your say. All responses must be received by Wednesday 5 January 2022″

SODC is to make extra funding available to help businesses that have been severely affected by Covid-19 restrictions to get through the winter months.

Local businesses can apply for a grant of up to £15,000 to help to keep them going through the quieter trading months. In total, South Oxfordshire District Council has £1,239,551 available.

The funds are available for new businesses or those in the events, travel and tourism sectors, and comes from the government’s Additional Restrictions Grant, which aims to help organisation most affected by the ongoing pandemic.

Businesses based in the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts can find out if they are eligible via the South and Vale Business Support website.

Applications for support are open until midday on 16 December.

Applicants will be assessed on evidence that demonstrates the ongoing effect of the pandemic on their business and those eligible will receive support early in the new year.

 

A reminder that the autumn parish litter pick is being held this weekend – 27/28^th  November.

The Saturday morning pick will cover Kingston Hill while the Sunday morning will see Aston Rowant and the A40 and B4009 covered.

As to where to meet, for the Saturday pick meet at the bus stop by the Cherry Tree at 10am. And for the Sunday pick, meet at the lay-by by the Lambert Arms at 10am.

All are welcome to help (so long as they’re over 16). Each pick should only take two hours at most.

For more details contact Steven Sowerby on 01844 351392 or .