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Archive for category: News

You are here: Home / Council News / News

The new corporate plan – tell SODC

/in News/by Adam Bernstein

SODC wants to know what residents think it, as a district council, should focus on over the coming years.

District councillors are putting together plans for the future of the district and they want everyone living and working here to have their say.

Should it be working with other organisations to help local businesses get back on their feet after lockdown? Should it help people live healthier lives? Or should it tackle the climate emergency? Or are there other concerns?

To have your say visit South Oxfordshire’s website until Thursday 13 August.

SODC hopes to publish and adopt its final corporate plan in the Autumn.

New housing grants policy

/in News/by Adam Bernstein

South Oxfordshire District Council has made it easier for people with disabilities or who are vulnerable to receive housing assistance grants and loans to help make their homes safer and more comfortable.

While the council says it has always provided a grants and loans service for vulnerable people to help their homes better suit their needs, the new Housing Assistance Grants and Loans policy introduced by the council this month has extended what’s on offer.

The maximum grant available has increased from £30,000 to £50,000 and a grant is also now available for people living with dementia. In addition, the system is to be streamlined with new technology aiming to improve the service and reduce the waiting times for work to be carried out.

The new policy aims to:

  • support more disabled residents to live independently by improving access and movement around their homes
  • reduce hospital admissions and enable early hospital discharges
  • reduce the need for residential care by allowing people with disabilities to live independently in their own homes
  • reduce fuel poverty and the effects of living in cold homes
  • support tailored home adaptations for those who need them including those suffering with dementia

To apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant, the first step is to contact an occupational therapist to see if someone is eligible. For more information on applying for grants and loans please see here.

Re-opening of leisure centres

/in News/by Adam Bernstein

Last week the government announced details for when leisure centres and swimming pools could re-open. South Oxfordshire is working with Better, who runs council leisure facilities, to agree to a re-opening plan for the leisure service that complies with the government guidance and meets the industry standards.

There will be a gradual, phased opening of the centres, with careful measures being put into place for both staff and public safety.

Each leisure centre is being assessed independently as they all have different facilities and availability of space to make any necessary changes. Precisely when they open and how they operate when they are open will reflect that.

When the centres do re-open things will work differently at first, and not everything will be available in the early phases of reopening – for example, many programmes and classes that were running before the coronavirus pandemic will not be available to begin with.  These classes will open at later dates as part of the gradual, phased reintroduction of services.

Throughout this process the council has been following government guidelines and will continue to do so. If necessary, the timing of the phasing could be altered depending on the latest advice, and it might be that not all leisure centres are able to open as soon as the 25 July. The council wants to help residents to stay active and are aware that many swimming clubs are keen to get back in the pools. However, the safety of residents is paramount and access to leisure facilities may vary from town to town to reflect the latest government guidance.

Better leisure centres will be communicating to customers to advise specifically how each programme and access to activity will work.

The end of the transitional period

/in News/by Adam Bernstein

The UK may have left the EU in January but we’re in the midst of a transitional period that will end on 31 December.

For individuals and businesses alike, the government has a page that, once a number of questions have been answered, returns a series of pages that offer guidance on preparing for life after the EU.

See here for more information.

Chinnor road works

/in News/by Adam Bernstein

Chinnor is to see major road works for many weeks.

Starting on the Oakley Road roundabout on 13 July, four way traffic lights will be installed as the work progresses down Station Road.

Station Road will then be closed from 4 August until 9 October (7 weeks total 24 hour closure – access only for residents and emergency services ) unless completed sooner.

These works are for SGN gas work improvements.

Playground – reopening delayed

/in News/by Adam Bernstein

Although the Government announced that playgrounds can reopen from 4 July, the fenced play area on Kingston Blount playing field will not reopen on that date. The government requires a number of measures to be taken before reopening can be considered; the parish council will be discussing these at our meeting on 8 July. In addition, we were hoping that the remedial work we had scheduled before the lockdown was enforced would be carried out prior to opening. That work is still in progress and we do not plan on reopening until that is complete.

Further updates will be given on this website and KBAR Facebook page in time.

Biffa statement on recycling

/in News/by Adam Bernstein

Following a recent BBC report on the export of UK originated plastics and recycling to Turkey for burning and improper disposal, SODC’s contractor – Biffa – has issued a press release noting its policies and practices.

Biffa says that it follows UK best practice and does not export recycling to Turkey – only carefully selected countries.

The release is available below.

Struggling to pay council tax?

/in News/by Adam Bernstein

Those who have outstanding payments on their council tax bill and are struggling to pay are being urged to contact SODC to find out what support may be available. An extra £150 of discount is now available to certain residents.

The government hasn’t suspended council tax during the pandemic and so it still needs to be paid.  The council is especially concerned that people could get into further debt if they don’t keep up with their payments and so have written to more than 6,000 households, who aren’t currently in receipt of council tax support, whose accounts are in arrears, advising them on the options that are available and urging them to get in touch.

The council confirms that residents receiving a reduction on their council tax via the councils’ Council Tax Reduction scheme, will receive up to a further £150 off their 2020/21 council tax bill. The extra discount comes from a government hardship fund announced in April.

Anyone who is worried about being able to afford their council tax should get in touch with the council to find out about the help that’s available to best support them.  This can include:

  • rescheduling council tax instalments so that they start later or are spread over a longer time;
  • applying for council tax support – the council tax reduction scheme can help reduce the amount of council tax people have to pay – visit www.southoxon.gov.uk/ctrs for details;
  • making payment, setting up a Debit Debit, or changing payment arrangements online via southoxon.gov.uk/counciltax

To support those who are self-isolating, and to help avoid unnecessary travel and contact, residents are encouraged to pay online.  People can make single payments by credit or debit card when it best suits them.

Alternatively, you can pay by calling the 24/7 automated payment service on 0345 302 2313 – please choose option 1 and option 1 again.  When you call you will need to quote your council tax reference.

More information on the support available to help people pay their council tax can be found on the SODC website.

District councillors report

/in News/by Adam Bernstein

Below is the latest report from our ward district councillors. Download and read it to see what’s going on in the county and the ward.

Proposed change of use for the Shepherds Crook

/in News/by Adam Bernstein

The Shepherds Crook closed as a result of coronavirus and is not reopening.

SODC has received an application for a change of use from a public house to a residential dwelling. The application can be seen here.

The pub is also listed as being for sale on Dalton’s Business. That listing can be seen here.

There is some disquiet that the parish – and Crowell – could lose an asset of importance.

Parishioners may wish to look at the application and offer their views. According to the Dalton’s Business listing, the pub turned over around £340,000 in the 12 months to the end of December 2019 so on the face of it the pub seems to be viable.

SODC will determine whether or not the change of use can go ahead. Parishioners wishing to express an opinion on the proposals should comment using the “Comment now” button on the application website (above).

The parish council will be discussing the application at the next meeting (in July).