There is a new travel line called Oxtail (the Oxfordshire Travel Advice Line) which provides free impartial journey planning and advice for people over 65 and those with a high level of support needs. Please call them to see where they can help in planning your journey.
Tel: 01865 323738 or email: oxtail@oxfordshire.gov.uk
This service is offered from 9-5 on weekdays
Various residents have contacted us about the new HMO licensing arrangements, specifically in regard to the number of HMOs in each area of the ward. As I’m sure you know, there is an acute shortage of affordable housing in Oxford, so it’s important that rented accommodation is available in the city, and that it is of good standard.
There is a policy for HMOs in the Local Plan, however when the policy was written, C4 HMOs (6 and under residents) were not considered HMOs and therefore there is currently uncertainty as whether our restrictive policy can be applied to C4 HMOs. The restriction is to limit HMOs to 25% of properties in a road.
There is no definitive list of HMOs and C4 HMOs so the council is unable to say with certainty yet how many HMOs there are in any given street. A list is being compiled of applications for C4 HMO licences and there is already one for existing licensed HMOs, but there are many more yet to be identified and logged.
The Lib Dem group is keen to ensure that all HMOs (of whatever kind) are inspected and licensed, (and deemed worthy of licensing!) so that we have a definitive list to inform further decision making on planning policies
We welcome the introduction by the Coalition government of the Lib Dems’ flagship pupil premium. To read more about it, you can find a detailed statement by Sarah Teather here.
NHS Oxfordshire are keen to hear the views and opinions of local people on a new model that is being proposed for counselling services in Oxfordshire.
Please go to the following link to find out more about this consultation. The survey will close on 11th August.
If so, there’s a useful website you can look at here.
The team at the County can help with:
They have practical experience of preparing travel plans for a number of the County’s own offices, as well as working with over 300 schools in the county to do so.
If you need further advice then contact the Travel Plans team at travelplans@oxfordshire.gov.uk or tel. 01865 814596.
There will be a preliminary phase of works starting on 26 July 2010 for 2 weeks to install the site offices and narrow lane traffic management. During this time there will be a requirement for the M40 junction 9 northbound exit slip road to be closed overnight. This will take place on the 6 and 7 August 2010 between 10pm and 5am. A clearly signed diversion route via M40 junction 10 will be in place.
This will then be followed by the main phase of work, which is scheduled to start on 9 August 2010, and will take roughly 5 months to complete.
The aim of this scheme is to increase capacity on the slip-roads and A34 in order to improve traffic flow, thereby reducing congestion at the junction.
Details of this scheme and further traffic management updates will be available on this website or by contacting the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000
There are an increasing number of consultations online lately from the City Council and the County Council.
It’s easy to miss out on these. The City Council is asking for your feedback on:
The County Council wants you to comment on:
Please do send in your comments – it is becoming increasingly common for councils to say that they have consulted residents but residents tell us they don’t know these consultations are happening. That is because they are very often online, and this bothers me because I know very well that some of our residents feel ‘disenfranchised’ by not having (or not choosing to have) access to the Web.
I shall set up sticky links to the the consultation websites so that you can click on them to make sure you haven’t missed out on anything!
David and I have had several enquiries about setting up residents’ groups since the last councillor surgery in Windmill Road/Langley Close and the Barton West presentation at the Baptist Church in Old High Street
I have compiled an information sheet on this – please let us know if you would like a copy by hitting the orange comment? button at the top of this post or by emailing either of us at:
ruth.wilkinson@oxfordlibdems.org.uk
david.rundle@oxfordlibdems.org.uk
We are happy to talk to anyone hoping to get more involved in community action and positively encourage it!
We have just heard this lunchtime that the county council has put the Highfield Traffic Management Scheme proposals on hold, and that the County officer responsible for the scheme has given apologies for this evening’s area committee meeting
The responses from local councillors on the current scheme will still be sent to the County’s transport planning officer for consideration in the drafting of the report, and the responses from residents will still be collated, analysed and made public at some unspecified point in the future
More importantly there is an implication that the money for this proposed scheme may be spent elsewhere in Headington rather than in the Highfield (and New H) area, so long as it helps reduce through traffic in and around developer sites at the NOC and the Brambles, Latimer Road. This will be decided in line with the capital spending review. It would be possible, for example, for the County to decide that this money should be used as part of the Park and Ride expansion at Thornhill to run public transport to and from hospitals in Headington thus reducing through traffic by drivers through Headington residential streets. Please note: this is only one alternative option
The discussion of options arising from the Highfield Traffic Management Scheme consultation at the Cabinet Member for Transport’s meeting in September has been pulled from that agenda
As Vice Chair of the North East Area Committee I have asked for Joy White (the author of these proposals) to come along and update us on the response to the consultation and what the likely options may be. That meeting is happening on Tuesday 20 July at New Marston Primary School, Copse Lane at 6 pm. You are very welcome to come along and hear the latest news on this! I shall ensure there will be an opportunity for the public to ask questions and give comments.