Grants for voluntary groups

The annual open bidding grants programme is now open for community and voluntary groups to apply for a grant for projects or activities taking place next financial year (2011/12).  Here is a link to Grantscape, which is an organisation that manages and administers a grant fund of £220,000 for the Oxfordshire Partnership aimed at community and voluntary organisations in Oxfordshire.

David and Ruth have further information and can give advice on how to complete your funding bid, please contact us for details


Tenant tax to be scrapped

 The unpopular “Tenant Tax” will be scrapped, with local authorities being allowed to keep all council house rents and sales receipts they collect to reinvest in social housing, under plans announced today by the coalition government. 

The proposal, which sees the coalition delivering on a major Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment, will result in the Housing Revenue Account subsidy being scrapped in favour of greater financial freedom for councils. Under the previous system, all council tenant rent was paid into a local housing pot, from which the government was allowed to make deductions to fund subsidies for other local authorities. The government also retained some of the money centrally. 

The new proposals will see this Housing Revenue Account subsidy scrapped. Instead councils will be able to retain all of the money from rents and sales receipts to invest in the repair, maintenance and construction of social housing in their area. 

Full details of the new system will be announced as part of the Spending Review on 20 October and will be introduced as part of the Localism Bill this autumn.

Lib Dem Conference in Liverpool

Ruth has just returned from the Liberal Democrat Party conference in Liverpool.

What a busy week it was. It’s the first time (since the 1930s) where the Liberal Democrats have been a Party of Government, and as a result there was more media interest making this was by far the largest Lib Dem (or Liberal) conference in living memory – with over 7000 people attending.

Conference is a busy mix of debates, speeches, training and “fringe” events. So there was no shortage of events to keep the delegates from Headington and East Oxford busy throughout the week.

Conference kicked off on Saturday with a Conference “rally” with Nick Clegg MP and Art Malik launching the Liberal Democrat support for the “Fairer Votes” referendum next May.

Sunday saw Q&A with the Deputy Prime Minister, where ordinary Party members got an opportunity to ask Nick about his role in Government.

Monday was dominated by the Leader’s speech. Normally we have this at the end of Conference, but Nick Clegg had to go to address the United Nations!

Tuesday’s main speech was from Deputy Leader Simon Hughes MP.

Wednesday the main speech was Vince Cable.

Some in the media probably expected this first conference “in Government” to be a difficult one for the Liberal Democrats. Our experience was the exact opposite.

The Liberal Democrats at long last are delivering on our promises for a fairer Britain, a fair start for children, sorting out the economy and cleaning up politics.  Thousands of new members have joined the Liberal Democrats since the coalition was announced in May and there was a real “buzz” that this is a Party which is up to the challenge of Government and clearing up the mess left by Labour.

Debates in the main conference hall included an important debate on International Development, and one where delegates reaffirmed Party policy that the replacement of Trident missiles should be reconsidered, along with passing a resolution calling for equality in the laws around marriage (for mixed-sex and same-sex couples).

It was also a busy week for delegates’ training – everything from being a better councillor to communicating well with local people.

There is more information on Conference on the national Party website

Want to grow fruit and vegetable but don’t have a garden?

Fruit and vegetables image This could be your chance…

Landshare logo

Landshare brings together people who have a passion for home-grown food.It’s for people who:

·        Want to grow veg but don’t have anywhere to do it

·        Have a spare bit of land they’re prepared to share

·        Can help in some way – from sharing knowledge and lending tools to helping out on the plot itself

·        Support the idea of freeing up more land for growing

·        Are already growing and want to join in the community

Landshare came out of TV’s River Cottage. It began when Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall helped some Bristol families grow veg on derelict council land. The experience was so inspiring that River Cottage decided to see if it would work nationwide. Now Landshare is a national movement of more than 50,000 people, go to their web site by clicking here.

It began with the tiny seed of an idea – and it’s growing and growing

Trees and the London Road building work

Residents have asked us where the trees have got to in the new London Road redevelopment work. New trees will be planted in the planting season so this will be near the end of the scheme.  The actual trees are currently being selected from nurseries.

In at least one place, workers have prepared the hole and root barrier and then filled it in with a temporary filler and paved over it.  The hole will be opened up to put the tree in later.  We are told this is easier for the paving teams.  Don’t worry, the trees won’t be overlooked!

Temporary road closure – Old Headington

The County Council will close the road at Larkins Lane and St Andrew’s Lane on 13 September 2010.

A temporary Traffic Order is being made to implement the temporary phased road closur and will operate from 13/9/10 and continue for approximately 2 weeks

Access will be maintained for emergency service vehicles and also for those residents within the closure area, subject to the progress of the works. Access will depend on exactly where the works are located at any given time

London Roadworks latest

Many of you will have seen the article on page 9 of today’s Oxford Mail “Driving us to despair” on the hazards faced by pedestrians and motorists at the London Road/Windmill Road traffic lights

Meanwhile there has been a hold-up further down the London Road. The County Council website reveals the answer why:

In Phase 12A (outside Iceland), work to divert underground services in the area of the new retaining wall was unfortunately delayed due to reasons outside our control, which means this phase will not be completed until late September. To ensure that the overall scheme is completed on time, we will be starting work in Phase 8 (opposite St Andrew’s School) sooner than originally planned, which means that this section can be reopened to the public in time for the start of the new school term.

We are still on target to complete the kerbline changes and paving around the Windmill Road junction, so that the junction is running at normal capacity in time for the start of the school term.

Plea for unwanted garden equipment

Does anyone have any of the following please? Someone in the ward would like to volunteer his time to look after his elderly neighbour’s gardens and needs this equipment:

  • small garden fork
  • small garden trowel
  • secateurs
  • large garden spade
  • large garden fork

If you can help, please email David or me – ruth.wilkinson@oxfordlibdems.org.uk or david.rundle@oxfordlibdems.org.uk

Many thanks!