Creating Futureswww.westoxon.gov.uk

West Oxfordshire District Council’s newsletter for residents Summer 2014

New housing targetsHave your say...Pages 2-6

Message from Cllr Barry Norton Leader of the CouncilThis edition focuses on a new draft Local Plan, an important strategy setting out how West Oxfordshire should develop in the future. See pages 2-6 for more.

In this draft, our Council is addressing the need for more housing while protecting and enhancing the District we all know and love. Consultation is under way and I would urge you all to have a say.

In everything we do, we are guided by an over-arching principle of ensuring that West Oxfordshire remains one of the best places to live, work and visit. In recent years, we have concentrated on sustaining vibrant, healthy and economically prosperous towns and villages, particularly in response to economic difficulties nationwide.

We are proud that our local economy has gone from strength to strength, and remain committed to supporting this with free car parking and assistance for businesses of all sizes. It is promising that unemployment figures locally have dropped recently to pre-recession levels for the first time since 2008.

The rollout of high-speed broadband is of vital importance to our rural communities and our Council is working to secure this for everyone. We are leading a project to ensure the hardest-to-reach properties are not overlooked and have set aside £1.6m to help fund work. See page 7.

It is thanks to prudent financial planning, sharing services and staff with other authorities and a commitment to making efficiency savings that we are in a position to fund extra provisions such as broadband and grants to the voluntary sector and local communities, whilst safeguarding high-quality frontline services. We are especially pleased to be able to do this whilst freezing Council Tax for the fourth year and at a time of cutbacks by other authorities.

We will continue to build upon our successes as we move to the future and details of our plans for further efficiency savings can be found on page 11.

From the Local Plan to our own Council development, we have a busy time ahead. It is impossible to please everyone all the time, but rest assured that we are absolutely committed to always securing the best possible outcome for West Oxfordshire.

Voter registration changes...

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Apply for extra care housing...

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We have refined our plans for how the District could develop over the next 15 years in response to the Oxfordshire ‘Strategic Housing Market Assessment’ (SHMA) published earlier this year. The SHMA has been carried out following changes to national planning policy and revocation of the South East Regional Plan. It recommends a significant increase in new housing.

Unlike the Regional Plan the SHMA does not take account of environmental and other considerations such as infrastructure, which includes roads, drainage, schools, health and community facilities. We have looked at these factors and the latest evidence on housing need. Our current consultation is therefore focused on housing issues, including a new overall target for the District.

Our proposed housing target:The SHMA suggests that 11,880 homes are needed in the District for the period 2011-2029 (660 per year). Our own analysis indicates this figure is too high.

In response to the SHMA and other relevant evidence we are proposing to increase the housing target to at least 9,450 new homes. This equates to 525 homes per year for the period - an increase of 219 per year on the previous draft Local Plan target set in 2012.

Whilst this is below the recommendation in the SHMA there are a number of good reasons for this including the fact that West Oxfordshire has previously ‘over-delivered’ against its housing targets, which has affected future projections.

Our preferred strategy:We have updated our strategy on how to meet the proposed new housing target, including:• Plans for the majority of the housing to be built at the three main towns of Witney,

Carterton and Chipping Norton, with strategic housing sites at west, east and north Witney, east Carterton and on MOD land within Carterton, and land to the east of Chipping Norton.

• Outside of these main towns, focus on development to be predominantly on larger centres and villages - Bampton, Burford, Charlbury, Eynsham, Long Hanborough and Woodstock.

• Development on a smaller scale elsewhere with new homes in other villages to meet local housing needs.

• Measures to increase the supply of affordable housing.• Achieving a good mix of housing on new developments to meet a variety of different

needs, and to enable ‘self-building’ by those wishing to do so.• Around 60 hectares of land for business focused on the main towns.• New junctions at Downs Road and Shores Green, Witney, together with

improvements in the Ducklington Lane/Station Lane area and in the longer term, delivery of a northern perimeter road and the West End Link Road to provide a second river crossing for Witney.

Proposals can be viewed online at www.westoxon.gov.uk/draftlocalplan

The Local Plan will affect you in some way over the coming years - it could be where you live, work or shop or how you travel and spend your spare time, and that is why we are keen to hear your views.

Consultation ends Friday19 September 2014.

The draft Local Plan sets out our approach to housing and economic growth, and all the services needed to support this.

Planning for the future

The Buttercross development, Witney

“ The Local Plan will shape how West Oxfordshire develops over

the next 15 years and so we are urging residents to take part in this important consultation by

letting us know their views on the draft plans. ”

Cllr Warwick Robinson, Cabinet Member for Planning & Housing

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The overall strategy:The Local Plan sets out five key principles that will apply to all development in the District:• A presumption in favour of sustainable

development (development that meets current needs without compromising those of future generations)

• Locating development in the right places (ie focused mainly at the larger towns)

• Ensuring the prudent use of natural resources

• Achieving high quality design• Making proper investment in supporting

infrastructure such as schools and roads.

New homes: how many and where?The draft Plan provides for 9,450 new homes to be built between 2011 and 2029. Of these, around 820 have already been built leaving over 8,600 to find. In accordance with the overall strategy the majority of new homes will be provided at the three main towns with more modest growth elsewhere.

New homes to 2029:

Location No. of homes

Witney area 3,550

Carterton area 2,450

Chipping Norton area 1,450

Eynsham - Woodstock area 1,350

Burford - Charlbury area 650

Around 3,200 of these are already in the pipeline through existing planning permissions and previous Local Plan allocations including:• West Witney (1,000 homes)• Coral Springs, Witney (185 homes)• Buttercross Works, Witney (176 homes)• REEMA North, Carterton (200 homes)• North West Carterton (250 homes)• New Road, Bampton (160 homes)• Cromwell Park, Chipping Norton

(80 homes)

In the two more rural areas, development will focus predominantly on the larger centres and villages:

• Eynsham - Woodstock area: 1,350 new homes

315 homes have already been built leaving just over 1,000 to find. No strategic sites are proposed at this stage but a number of sites have been identified as having some potential for development at Eynsham, Long Hanborough and Woodstock.

• Burford - Charlbury area: 650 new homes

The number of new homes planned for this area is lower than elsewhere, reflecting the constraints and lack of suitable housing sites available.

A limited number of specific sites have been identified and the majority of development is likely to come through speculative development on sites that are not currently identified for housing through the plan preparation process.

Potential housing allocations in these two more rural areas will be addressed in a follow-up Local Plan ‘Part 2’ document with consultation due to start in 2015.

What type of new homes?The Plan aims to provide a good mix of new homes, balancing the increasing trend towards smaller households with the need for family housing.

As a general guide for affordable housing we will seek 65% 1-2 bed properties and 35% 3-4 bed properties; and for market housing, a balanced mix of different house types having regard to the SHMA and other evidence.

A key aim is to increase the supply of affordable housing. It is expected that on average, some 40% of all new housing built will be affordable depending on the location. On larger housing schemes we will generally expect the new affordable housing to be provided on-site and on smaller schemes developers can pay a financial contribution based on the size of the houses they are building.

Providing for new jobsAlthough the latest draft Plan is concerned with the increased housing target, it is not just about new homes and aims to ensure West Oxfordshire’s economy thrives.

Provision is made for around 60 hectares of business land, to be focused primarily on the main towns but also delivered through strengthening the rural economy. This has been identified as more than sufficient to meet future job forecasts.

Additional provision of around four hectares of business land has been identified as a potential option at Carterton to help meet increasing demand. This would be subject to the replacement of our existing sports pitches at Monahan Way.

Meeting the needs of specific groupsIt is important that the Local Plan addresses the housing needs of a range of different groups including older people, younger people, people with disabilities, families, travelling communities and those wishing to self-build their own home.

The draft Plan sets out a number of different ways we will try to meet the needs of these groups such as making sure new housing can be easily adapted to meet the needs of older people and encouraging developers to set aside some of their sites for those wishing to build their own home.

To find out more information and have your say on the draft Local Plan see page 6.

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Witney area: 3,550 new homes

KEY:

Proposed housing

Strategic development area

Employment area

Biodiversity Target Area

Landscape buffer

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

Scheduled Ancient Monument

New junction and other highways improvements

Land safeguarded for new link road

800 - 820 homes to be built after 2021.

Land reserved for West End Link Road.

Mainly employment development on available land.

1,000 homes, new school facilities, open space and land for business.

Golf course

A40

Witney

Burford Rd

Woodstock Rd

A40Thorney Leys

Deer Park

Win

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Cogges

Madley Park

Town centre

30 homes.

180 - 200 homes.

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Witney is identified as one of the District’s three main centres of growth.

The plan proposes 3,550 new houses within or around Witney - of which around 2,400 will be built as ‘strategic’ extensions to the town:• West Witney - 1,000 homes plus

10 hectares of employment land (planning permission already given);

• East Witney - 400 homes; and • North Witney -1,000 homes (mainly

phased to come forward after 2021).

The east Witney site was originally identified for 300 homes but has been increased to 400 to help meet the higher housing target and ensure the development is financially able to deliver the Shores Green Slip Road scheme and other infrastructure that is needed.

Land at north Witney has a long planning history having been considered through several previous Local Plan Inquiries. It was identified as a potential option during early consultation but was ruled out in favour of land to the west and east of Witney. In light of the increased housing target it has now been reintroduced as a potential site to help meet longer term housing needs.

The intention is that development at north Witney would be phased so that a small development of 180 - 200 homes is able to come forward on the land between New Yatt Road and Woodstock Road in the short-term, with the remaining balance of 800 - 820 houses to be built on the larger part of the site after 2021.

This phased approach would allow time for the two other strategic sites at Witney to be delivered and enable the necessary preparatory work needed to bring forward the West End Link Road - a key requirement of any large-scale development to the north of Witney.

370 homes, open space and landscaping.

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Carterton is also considered a main centre of growth.

Some 2,450 new homes are proposed in the local area to include the majority at:• East Carterton - 700 homes as a

strategic extension to the town; and• Former Ministry of Defence land

(REEMA North and Central) - 400 additional houses within the town

The east Carterton site was originally identified in the Draft Local Plan (2012) for 700 homes. A large number of objections were received raising concerns about traffic, noise, air pollution, light pollution, flooding and drainage and the loss of the green ‘buffer’ between Carterton and Brize Norton village.

These concerns have been carefully assessed and it is considered that they can all be properly addressed and mitigated. The scale of development (700 homes) has not been increased despite the overall increase in the housing target because the Council recognises the need to provide an adequate buffer between Carterton and Brize Norton village.

Land at REEMA Central is a previously developed site, well located in relation to Carterton’s services and facilities. Once the REEMA North site has been completed for service families (200 homes) the MOD will release REEMA Central for development. It is expected that through a combination of infill and partial redevelopment, this will provide a further 200 homes.

Alternative strategic site options at west Carterton and Kilkenny Farm have not been allocated at this stage.

Carterton area: 2,450 new homes

Redevelopment of large areas of substandard MOD housing (REEMA North/Central) - 400 homes.

Focus on enhancing the biodiversity and leisure value of the Shill Brook Valley.

700 homes, employment development, new primary school, land for open space.

Alvescot Rd

Brize Norton Rd

Upavon Way

Mon

ahan

Way

Carterton Rd

Burford Rd

Promote new job opportunities using available employment land.

Brize Norton Village

Improve the town centre environment with the addition of new shopping facilities. RAF Brize Norton is

an integral part of the local community. Its expansion is positive for the local economy.

MOD

Country Park

Shill

Broo

k Vall

eyMaintain a landscape buffer between Carterton and Brize Norton to form an extension to the country park.

Shilton Park

Town centre

Carterton

To find out more information and have your say on the draft

Local Plan see page 6.

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Potential employment land (4 hectares) subject to replacement of playing fields.

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Chipping Norton area: 1,450 new homes

Chipping Norton is also identified as a main centre of growth.

Around 1,450 new homes are proposed in the local area with the majority (500 homes) to the east of the town, around Tank Farm.

Previously it was suggested that housing numbers and locations in Chipping Norton would be determined by the emerging Neighbourhood Plan. However, the Town Council no longer wishes to

deal with housing sites through their plan so the Local Plan must give a clear indication of sites that are expected to come forward.

The principle of large-scale development to the east of the town was previously consulted upon in 2010 but not taken forward as a preferred option. In light of the increased housing target this site has been re-considered and is found to be a sustainable location for future growth. Oxfordshire County Council is the main

landowner and has stated that it intends to release the site for development.

The number of dwellings would be limited to around 500 to reduce landscape impact. A mix of uses could be provided including some additional space for business development.

500 homes, open space and land for business at Tank Farm.

Town centre

A44 Banb

ury Rd

London Rd

A361 Burford Rd

A44

Landscape buffer.

KEY:

Proposed housing

Strategic development area

Employment area

Landscape buffer

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

Scheduled Ancient Monument

We want to know your views on the latest proposals. Consultation ends 19 September 2014 (all comments will go online).You can find out more about the draft Local Plan:• Online: www.westoxon.gov.uk/draftlocalplan• At District Council offices in Witney and the Guildhall

Chipping Norton; also at Carterton Town Hall.• At your local library.• Call: 01993 861420

You can comment:• Online: www.westoxon.gov.uk/DLPconsultation You need to register, but this is simple. You can comment on

different parts of the plan and see what others have said. We will email you about the progress of the Local Plan.

• Email: planning.policy@westoxon.gov.uk • Write to: Planning Policy, West Oxfordshire District

Council, Elmfield, New Yatt Road, Witney OX28 1PB (Please tell us which part of the plan you are commenting on).

All comments will be added to our website, but your personal details will not be included.

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Looking to the future with superfast broadband for all

Work is under way to secure superfast broadband for as many residents and businesses as possible.

A countywide project is being rolled out to provide high-speed broadband to at least 90% of Oxfordshire and we are now working to extend this to secure full coverage for our entire District.

We have partnered with local provider Cotswolds Broadband and are investing £1.6m as a loan, subject to safeguards.

Cllr Richard Langridge, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “With the reliance on the internet for both businesses and residents, superfast broadband is of vital importance.

“While there are real hurdles in achieving full coverage in a rural District like ours, our Council feels very strongly that we should do what we can to secure this for everyone. The project is still in the early stages, but it is very exciting and we believe this is the best chance to ensure West Oxfordshire moves with the times.”

Work to secure high-speed broadband is part of the Government’s Rural Community Broadband Programme, overseen by BDUK.

The countywide project is being led by Oxfordshire County Council, with BT as its commercial partner. For more information visit www.westoxon.gov.uk/broadband.

Community leads way Northmoor, Moreton and Bablockhythe will soon have one of the fastest and most up-to-date broadband networks, thanks to a community effort.

All 521 properties will have ultrafast broadband following a successful two-year project led by local residents, supported by our Council.

Northmoor Community Broadband Project has been successful in gaining £186,000 of Government funding to turn their dream into reality and work is almost complete.

See www.northmoorbroadband.co.uk for further details.

Register for extra care housingApplications are now being taken for West Oxfordshire’s first extra care housing schemes.

Specifically for over-55s, extra care is a modern housing option offering a cost-effective way of living independently in your own apartment, while having 24-hour access to personalised on-site care, if needed.

Work is progressing well on the District’s first developments, being provided by our housing partner GreenSquare:

• The Paddocks - Shipton Road, Milton-under-Wychwood: 44 one and two-bedroom apartments - 11 for shared ownership and 33 for rent, with priority for people with a local connection.

• Fernleigh - Station Lane, Witney: 80 one and two-bedroom apartments - 10 for shared ownership, 38 for sale, and 32 for rent. Situated near The Leys recreation ground, close to the town centre.

Both developments are due to be completed Spring 2015. To apply:

• For rental Call: 01865 773000 Email: extracare@greensquaregroup.com Write to: GreenSquare 55+ team, 244 Barns Road, Oxford OX4 3RW.

Priority will be given to current or previous West Oxfordshire residents and older people wanting to move to be near relatives in the District, although other applicants can register.

• For purchase Call: 01793 602806 Email: ecliving@greensquarehomes.com

With an increasing ageing population, we are keen to encourage residents to explore their options and plan for their future. See www.westoxon.gov.uk/housing for further information and advice.

Artist’s illustration of The Paddocks, Milton-under-Wychwood

Northmoor broadband project team representatives

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Around 35,000 men and women are volunteers with the UK Reserve Forces, including about 350 based locally at RAF Brize Norton.

Making up about 14% of the country’s total defence capacity, reservists play a vital role in military services and a recruitment campaign is now underway to give more people the chance to sign up.

There are spaces available in all Reserve Forces, including the:• Royal Air Force• British Army• Royal Marines• Royal Navy

Reservists are ordinary men and women - perhaps like yourself - who give up their time to train and serve alongside members of the Regular Forces. It is a chance to learn new skills and get paid while keeping your day job.

Reservists can be called upon as individuals for their specific skills, for example as a nurse or doctor, or as ready-formed units to serve alongside Regular Forces whenever required.

If mobilised, they carry out the same roles to the same standards as their Regular counterparts, receive the same world-class training and develop the same skills.

There is a huge range of roles on offer, from gunner and engineer to media support, chef, logistics mover, driver and military police.

Some roles, such as medical support, call on specific skills and are suitable for people who already have specialist professional training. For other roles, you do not need any previous training and you could join, whatever your day job is.

Becoming a Reservist requires a commitment to training. For the majority, this involves around 30 days per year, made up of midweek evenings, some weekends and one 15-day continuous training period, known as annual camp.

It provides a good opportunity to gain many of the advantages of military life and combine them with your civilian responsibilities and career.

Whatever you do and wherever you are based, Reservists will either serve overseas or get to visit overseas bases at some point.

Benefits of being a Reservist include:• Pay: you get paid to train and have the

opportunity to earn an annual tax-free bonus. The rates of pay are dependent on rank and are similar to those of the Regular Forces.

• Training: you receive wide-ranging training to help build confidence and teamwork skills, ensuring you are trained and ready to serve alongside the Regular Forces. Being a Reservist is not just about military skills, you will also get exciting new opportunities to experience adventurous training like kayaking, abseiling and scuba diving.

• Skills and qualifications: you gain new skills, from military training to completing civilian qualifications like NVQs or HNCs that can improve your career opportunities.

• Travel and experiences: you could serve on operations overseas, giving you the opportunity to experience new challenging environments.

Live a challenging life

Join the UK Reserve Forces - from day one you’ll be learning new skills. You’ll get paid and still keep your day job.

MY EXPERIENCE...Corp. Chris Long: RAF Mover

I’m an engineer by trade, but since I left college, I’ve done a bit of everything - I’ve been a photographer, a restaurant manager and in corporate entertainment. Being an RAF Reservist is the one constant in my life.

I’m a Mover, which is about logistics. It means taking a plane and loading everything on to it, making sure it’s all safely restrained, and managing the passengers, then you’re off with the plane and, at the other end, getting everything unloaded properly. It’s vital to get everything restrained correctly – if you’ve got a ten tonne tank in the back and all of a sudden the plane lands and slams on the brakes,

you can’t have the tank crashing through the front of the plane.

As a Reservist, you get to travel to places round the world that as a civvy you can’t get to. I’ve been to Qatar, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Ascension Island. Afghanistan was great because out there you’re really part of what’s going on and you get a real sense of pride. You’re directly involved with guys who are out on the front line. I’ve done two four-month tours in Afghanistan and if they asked me, I’d definitely go again.

The RAF is very keen to encourage you to do sports, too. I’m doing triathlon this year,

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Signing upTo join the Reserves, you need to be: • aged 18 or over (16+ for the Royal

Navy). Different upper age limits apply depending on the service and the role.

• medically fit.• a UK or Commonwealth citizen.

Previous military experience is not necessary.

For more information about becoming a Reservist:

www.serfca.org 01252 357605www.sabre.mod.uk 0800 389 5459www.raf.mod.uk 0845 606 9069www.army.mod.uk 0845 600 8080www.royalnavy.mod.uk 0845 600 3222

and before that, I learned to skydive. That’s a real mental challenge. You’ve got so much fear that builds up inside you when you go up in the plane because it’s the most unnatural thing you can do, but when you jump, that fear turns into adrenaline – and that’s why you keep coming back for more. Now I’ve got my licence, I can go by myself. I’ve got my own parachute. So whenever I get free time, I’m off jumping out of planes!

It’s up to you how much you do with the RAF Reserves, but the more you put into it, the more you’ll get out, and the more you’re there, the more you want to be there.

Military linksBeing home to the UK’s largest air station, there are close military links within the local community, particularly in Carterton and the villages surrounding RAF Brize Norton.

Our Council is signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant, which encourages support for armed forces’ families to help them integrate into local life.

Members of the armed forces and their families can get up to 30% off activities at our leisure centres. Call 01993 840933 or visit one of the centres, run by GLL Better.

There is also a national £30m Community Covenant Grant scheme, which has recently given £33,750 to Kilkenny (Carterton) Cricket Club, towards new training nets and an artificial match pitch. The improvement works will help the club, which has both military and civilian members, to expand. A £10,000 grant was also given by our Council.

Remembering World War OneCommunities are doing their bit to commemorate the centenary of WW1 and our Council has given grants up to £500 to support local projects, including:• Restoration of a WW1 plaque in Asthall Leigh• Memorial trees planted in Brize Norton and Freeland to represent the number of

local people who lost their lives during the conflict• Memorial benches installed in Black Bourton and Enstone • A plaque marking the centenary in Chipping Norton • An exhibition by North Leigh History Group • A metal poppy sculpture in Salford• A series of broadcast stories about the War by Witney Radio• Tending to war graves by the 2120 (Witney) Squadron Air Training Corps

Justin Meadows, the Air Training Corps Squadron civilian instructor, said: “Tending to war graves is something we’ve wanted to do for some time and the funding means we can approach the project on a bigger scale than we could have hoped for, so we’re very grateful for the support.”

Events to mark the centenary are happening across the country. Details of the national programme can be found at www.1418now.org.uk or www.britishlegion.org.uk

Members of the 2120 (Witney) Squadron near war graves at Tower Hill Cemetery, Witney. Ca

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ALVESCOT & FILKINS Cllr David

McFarlane Conservative 01367 810102

ASCOTT & SHIPTON Cllr Tom Simcox Conservative 07834 463651

BAMPTON & CLANFIELD Cllr Martin

Barrett Conservative 01993 202561

Cllr Mark Booty Conservative (Deputy Leader) 01993 851003

BARTONS Cllr Robert Courts Conservative 01993 813098

BRIZE NORTON & SHILTON Cllr Alex Postan Conservative 01993 842740

BURFORD Cllr Derek

Cotterill Conservative 01993 823188

CARTERTON NORTH EAST Cllr Norman

MacRae MBE Conservative (Chairman)

Cllr Henry Howard

Conservative 01993 844631

CARTERTON NORTH WEST Cllr Peter Handley Conservative 01993 842147

Cllr Maxine Crossland

Conservative (Deputy Chairman) 01993 212654

CARTERTON SOUTH Cllr Michael

Brennan Conservative 01993 212863

Cllr Lynn Little Conservative 01993 842269

CHADLINGTON & CHURCHILL Cllr Neil Owen Conservative 01993 830875

CHARLBURY & FINSTOCK Cllr Hywel Davies Conservative 01993 868004

Cllr Liz Leffman Liberal Democrat 01608 810153

CHIPPING NORTON Cllr Eve Coles Labour 01608 643570

Cllr Geoff Saul Labour 01608 648020

Cllr Laetisia Carter

Labour 01608 643604

DUCKLINGTON Cllr Ben Woodruff Conservative 01993 708945

EYNSHAM & CASSINGTON Cllr Peter Kelland Conservative 01865 880028

Cllr Peter Emery Conservative 01865 731199

Cllr Edward James Conservative 01865 731009

FREELAND & HANBOROUGH Cllr Colin

Dingwall Conservative 01993 706363

Cllr Toby Morris Conservative 01993 849402

HAILEY, MINSTER LOVELL & LEAFIELD Cllr Simon Hoare Conservative 01993 869241

Cllr Warwick Robinson

Conservative 01993 774386

KINGHAM, ROLLRIGHT & ENSTONE Cllr Andrew

Beaney Conservative 01993 832090

Cllr Nigel Colston Conservative 01608 643209

MILTON-UNDER-WYCHWOOD Cllr Jeff Haine Conservative 01993 830078

NORTH LEIGH Cllr Barry Norton Conservative

(Leader) 01993 861617

STANDLAKE, ASTON & STANTON HARCOURT Cllr Hilary Fenton Conservative 01993 852082

Cllr Steve Good Conservative 01865 882668

STONESFIELD & TACKLEY Cllr Charles

Cottrell-Dormer Conservative 01869 347110

Cllr Richard Bishop Conservative

01993 891414

WITNEY CENTRAL Cllr Andrew Coles Labour 01993 703812

Cllr Pete Dorward Conservative 01993 705359

WITNEY EAST Cllr Duncan

Enright Labour 01993 200012

Cllr Jeanette Baker Conservative 01993 702301

West Oxfordshire District Council is made up of 27 electoral areas, called wards, represented by 49 councillors. All councillors are listed below by the ward they represent. For more information visit: www.westoxon.gov.uk/councillors

Know your councillors

Councillors can also be emailed. Please use the following format: name.surname@westoxon.gov.uk

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The new system is called ‘Individual Electoral Registration’. Previously, the ‘head of household’ was responsible for registering everyone who lived at an address, but now every individual is responsible for their own registration and this can now be done online.

Automatic transferWe have written to all residents currently on the register, informing most of them that they will automatically move on to the new electoral register.

However, around 8,000 residents have been told that they may need to take action to join the new electoral register, even if they were registered in the past.

Taking actionIf you received a letter from us inviting you to register, it’s important you respond so that you can have your say in future elections and referendums.

You will need to provide details such as your National Insurance number and date of birth. This helps make the electoral register more secure.

There are also people in the area who are not registered to vote at all and so need to register to have their say in elections.

If you, or someone in your household such as a young person aged 16, 17 or 18 years, is not registered to vote visit:www.gov.uk/yourvotematters

This is the biggest change to the voter registration system in 100 years.

Please note: paying council tax does not automatically add you to the electoral register.

New vision for joint workingCllr Mark Booty, Deputy Leader, explains how the Council plans to face reductions in government funding whilst maintaining the high quality services residents have come to expect...

Many councils throughout the UK are now making efficiency savings by sharing some of their services with other authorities, and an increasing number are looking further ahead by moving towards greater integration.

Our 2020 Vision proposal to establish a jointly-owned local authority company, to provide services for West Oxfordshire and for three neighbouring councils, is probably one of the most radical approaches to collaborative working in local government today.

We have found that shared working reduces our administration and running costs so that we can continue to protect frontline services for residents, without the need to make cutbacks.

We already have a good track record of working with Cheltenham Borough Council, Forest of Dean and Cotswold District Councils and this move enables us to build on existing solid foundations, rather than starting from scratch.

Based on our previous experience of shared working, we estimate that, collectively, the partnership can make savings of about £5.5m per year.

This proposal enables us to retain democracy, accountability and focus at a District Council level with councillors continuing to represent their local wards.

Our overall employment costs will be reduced but we are not looking at a redundancy programme. So far we have successfully made significant savings through natural wastage with staff choosing to leave to work elsewhere, taking early retirement or asking for voluntary redundancy. We intend to continue with this approach.

It is an exciting time and there is a great deal of work to do over the next few years. Above all, we want to make sure we get the best possible outcome for our residents and for our staff. Our successful achievements so far have come from being evolutionary rather than revolutionary and that’s how we intend to continue.

Voter registration across the UK is changing

WITNEY EAST cont Cllr James Mills Conservative 01993 700884

WITNEY NORTH Cllr David Snow Independent 01993 703365

Cllr Richard Langridge

Conservative 01993 704493

WITNEY SOUTH Cllr Alvin Adams Conservative 01993 772098

Cllr Jane Doughty Conservative 01993 774945

Cllr David Harvey Conservative 01993 706501

WITNEY WEST Cllr Louise

Chapman Conservative 01993 773560

Cllr Harry Eaglestone

Conservative 01993 702915

WOODSTOCK & BLADON Cllr Julian Cooper Liberal Democrat 01993 811519

Cllr Elizabeth Poskitt

Liberal Democrat 01993 811590

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Garden waste bin spot checks are being carried out across the District to help reduce the amount of ‘non-green’ items being found in them.

Please ensure you only use your garden waste bin for compostable waste such as grass cuttings, leaves and flowers.

Our garden waste recycling service is free for householders, but we are finding that items like plant pots, plastic bags and compost bags are being put in the bin. In some cases, collection crews have found general waste, car batteries and even a mattress!

Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for the Environment said: “Sometimes this is down to residents simply not understanding what can, and cannot be recycled, but when household rubbish is hidden under green waste, this is counterproductive.

“Spot checks are helping to identify householders doing this and any bins containing non-green waste will not be emptied that week and our contractors will leave a sticker explaining why. We are grateful to those residents who use it in the proper way.”

Contaminated items have to be removed by Agrivert at the composting plant near Chipping Norton. This is a costly exercise with the waste removed being sent to landfill.

For a full list of items that can go in garden waste bins, and other recycling/waste bins, visit www.westoxon.gov.uk/bins.

People can also register for free green waste collections online or by calling 01993 861000.

CONTACTING US

You can access lots of council services 24/7 via:

It’s quick and easy to book a service, pay a bill or report a problem online.

From a postcode search you can:• view planning applications on

your property or street• find your waste collection dates• register for email alerts• see your council tax banding• find the name of your

councillor and much more...

Call: 01993 861000OUT OF HOURS EMERGENCIES:

0845 3039706

Useful numbersBenefits 01993 861030Business Support 01993 861485 Community Services 01993 861060Council Tax 01993 861040 Electoral Services 01993 861410Housing Services 01993 861010 Leisure & Communities 01993 861080 Licensing 01993 861060 Planning 01993 861420 Street Scene 01993 861020Waste & Recycling 01993 861025

Leisure centreswww.better.org.uk

Bartholomew 01993 731090 Bartholomew School, Eynsham OX29 4AP Carterton 01993 840933Broadshires Way, Carterton OX18 1AA Chipping Norton 01608 644412Burford Road, Chipping Norton OX7 5DY Windrush 01993 202020Witan Way, Witney OX28 4YA

Visitor informationwww.oxfordshirecotswolds.org

Burford 01993 823558 Witney 01993 775802

www.westoxon.gov.uk

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REMINDER!August Bank Holiday bin dates:Normal collection: Revised date:

Mon 25 August Tues 26 AugustTues 26 August Wed 27 August

Wed 27 August Thurs 28 AugustThurs 28 August Fri 29 August

Fri 29 AugustSat 30 August

Normal collections resume 1 September.

Did you know..?

You can download a calendar of all your bin dates from our websiteSimply visit www.westoxon.gov.uk and enter your address or postcode in the green ‘My West Oxfordshire’ box.

New 12-month calendars will be available from mid September.

Wasps or hornets a problem?Creepy crawlies, rats or mice causing a nuisance?We provide a comprehensive pest service for both domestic and commercial properties for a wide range of pests.

All treatments are carried out as humanely as possible and we only use approved products. Free telephone advice is available.

Call 01993 861000 or visit www.westoxon.gov.uk/envhealth

What can go in your garden waste binGarden greenery and green waste only including:

Grass cuttings and leaves

Bark and wood shavings

Small twigs, branches and logs

Small quantities of soil

Windfalls eg apples, pears and plums which have fallen from your trees

Hay / straw animal bedding from non-meat-eating animals

Spot checks on garden waste

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