North Place doors get the go ahead

Progress to report on our campaign to get new front doors for some North Place residents! The City Council has now instructed Nationwide windows have been instructed to replace the existing front doors at North Place with a composite type door which we hope will cut down draughts. They will be arranging to survey individual flats within next 2-3 weeks. Installation will commence  6-8 weeks after survey. We shall watch these welcome developments with interest and a keen eye to make sure they go ahead without delay!

Pupil premium boost for Headington schools

As the new school year begins, pupils at Windmill School will benefit from an extra £54,000 on top of the school budget thanks to the Liberal Democrat Pupil Premium. The figures for 2013/14 have just been announced and show an increase of over £17,000 at Windmill School from the 2012/13 pupil premium of £36,757

Liberal Democrat Schools Minister, David Laws said:

Liberal Democrats are building a strong economy and a fairer society where everyone can reach their potential.

At the heart of that is education.

The Pupil Premium helps to provide extra support for the children who need it the most.

Helping the most disadvantaged children helps every child. Fewer children falling behind means less disruption in class and a better education for everyone.

This will allow all our children to get the best possible start in life.

News for other Headington Schools: 2013/14 figures

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary £19,800 (up from £16821 last year)

Sandhills Community Primary £62,100 (up from 47,971 last year)

Wood Farm Primary £128,100 (up from £89,089 last year)

St Andrew’s C of E Primary £26,100 (up from £11837 last year)

Cheney School will receive £370,200 in pupil premium this year.

 

 

Action in your area

Here are just some of the issues David and I chased with City Council staff last Thursday on your behalf.

  • Poor condition of paving slabs next to Headington toilets
  • Missing toilet paper in Headington toilets to Streetscene  and query re type of toilet roll holders
  • Refurbishment update on Headington Toilets – disabled facilities must  be prioritised in the refurb plan
  • Crab apple tree on Stephen Road needs attention
  • Norton Close Litter bin abuse – monitor this in response to resident concerns
  • New High Street Flats,  lilac sack versus bin issues – residents need reassurance that the lilac sack service will continue
  • Kennett Road flyposting on telephone box to be taken up separately, Kennett Road rubbish on street is being monitored
  • Emptying of Osler Road overflowing bus stop bin (near entrance to Hospital) and  protruding bolts out of pavement
  • Latimer Road tree base suckers obstruct pavement
  • London Road (opposite Horwood close) receding grass – ward councillors to meet a member of Council staff on site to discuss options
  • Blackburn Close flats (off Beech Road),  residents require food waste recycling collections . Councillors already in correspondence with Board Member on this
  • Dunstan Road Cemetery wire style bins missing
  • Cuckoo Lane alleyway  surface imperfections – need repair
  • North Place ( opp no. 5) silver birch excessive height
  • Natural light restriction in North Place due to excessive tree canopies
  • Stapleton / Bickerton (Nr top of road) root damage to pavement
  • Bin configuration / mis-represented waste at Headington Car park Recycling Bells – too many? would there be less untidiness if they were arranged in a straight line?
  • North Place replacement doors – what is the timescale for these as they were priority after those completed after Blackbird Leys?
  • Garden scheme – your councillors have emailed the member of Council staff who deals with this for updated information
  • North Place communal paths – are they due for resurfacing?

Some of the above are phrased in Councilspeak – please get in touch if you want it translated! “Mis-represented waste” in this instance means people are chucking it down on the ground instead of posting it through the slots

We’ll let you know progress in our Focus leaflets and Ward Focus meetings – don’t forget the next Ward Focus meeting is on Tuesday 10 September. See details of our meetings and surgeries on the tab at the top of the screen.

 

 

Activities for women coming up soon…

Starting soon…

Zumba

Mondays, 7pm at Barton Neighbourhood Centre (starting 16 September 2013) £2 per session*

Wednesdays, 6.30pm at Cherwell School (starting 4 September 2013) £5 per session

Fridays, 9.15am at Marston & Northway Childrens Centre (starting 27 September 2013) £2.50 per session or £20 for 10 sessions if booked in advance!*

 

Salsa

Thursdays, 7pm at Barton Neighbourhood Centre (starting 19 Sep) £2 per session*

 

For more info on the above sessions and other activities offered through the Active Women Oxford project please visit www.getoxfordshireactive.orgor email: jcooper@oxford.gov.uk , call: 01865 252729.

Free tennis in Oxford 17/18 August in Florence Park

From 10.00-16.00 each day, there will be free access to tennis courts for everyone

Free tennis coaching will be available, including:

  •        Mini coaching for children aged 3 – 10 years
  •        Adult coaching
  •        Cardio Tennis (for adults)

You can arrive on the day and play, however booking is advisable for the free coaching sessions as spaces are limited and are expected to be popular. So book here to avoid disappointment!

County council releases statement on fracking

The British Geological Survey has identified parts of Oxfordshire as having geology that potentially may contain shale gas.  Oil and gas exploration and production (including shale gas) are subject to licensing by the Government.  There are currently no licences covering Oxfordshire.  The Government is planning to launch a new round of onshore licensing in 2014 (14th licence round) and we understand that parts of Oxfordshire may be included.

 

Oil and gas exploration and production (including shale gas) also require planning permission.  The County Council as mineral planning authority is responsible for determining planning applications for oil and gas exploration and production.  There are no current applications for oil or gas exploration or production in Oxfordshire and we are not aware of any forthcoming proposals.   Any planning application for fracking or any other form of oil or gas exploration or production would be considered by the County Council against relevant national and local planning policy.  National planning policy for oil and gas is contained in the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework, March 2012.  In addition, the Government recently published ‘Planning practice guidance for onshore oil and gas’, July 2013, which covers shale gas and fracking.  This includes guidance on how mineral planning authorities should consider any environmental impacts of planning applications for oil and gas exploration and production.

 

Ping! Play outdoor table tennis for free!

Ping! is an innovative street ping pong project which provides people with opportunities to play social and competitive table tennis, free of charge. The aim is to get as many people as possible across the whole of the UK playing – to bring about a sense of community spirit and get more people playing sport on the run up to the Olympics.

Ping! sees a month of activity and tables popping up in unusual and remarkable places.  Marked ‘Stop and Play’, the tables are up  for all to enjoy. Bats and balls are supplied: to join in the fun just borrow a bat from the side of the table!  As well as free-play, each ping-pong table features a varied programme of master-classes, competitions and free to join activities.

Ping! now has over 500 tables in public spaces across the UK including Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Cornwall, Hampshire, Hull, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Middlesbrough, Oxford and Sheffield

Ping! is produced by Sing London and is delivered in partnership with the English Table Tennis Association. Ping! is supported by National Lottery investment from Sport England.

You can see  where Ping! is offered in Oxford here The nearest place is Bury Knowle Park

For more details, try this site