District council update – Wednesday 22 July

The new Corporate Plan

We want to know what people think we, as district councils, should focus on over the coming years.

District councillors in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse are putting together plans for the future of their respective districts and they want everyone living and working here to have their say.

Maybe we should be working with other organisations to help local businesses get back on their feet after lockdown? Helping people live healthier lives? Tackling the climate emergency? Or all three and more?

It’s important that we hear from as many people as possible, so please do provide your comments – to have your say visit South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse websites – these will run until Thursday 13 August.

We hope to publish and adopt our final Corporate Plans for both councils in the Autumn.

 

Public speaking at committee meetings

Members of the public are now able to take part in our virtual committee meetings, including the Planning Committee.

The first meetings to include public speaking will be

For Planning Committees those who have made representations on planning applications must register to address the committee by midday on the last working day before the meeting. For other committees, you must register by 5pm on the last working day before the meeting.

If you register to take part in a meeting, our Democratic Services team will then provide you with further information, including the joining instructions.

We’re advising everyone who does register to speak to also submit a written statement by midday on the day before the meeting to ensure their contribution can be included should they experience technical difficulties.

New powers for councils to help contain Covid-19 locally

You will no doubt be aware of the government’s announcement on 18 July on new regulations and a framework to help contain a local outbreak of Covid-19.  The framework includes an outline of additional powers for local authorities to help protect residents and businesses against the spread of the virus. These powers will sit with officers of the upper-tier authority, which in our case is Oxfordshire County Council.

We are working jointly with the county council and other Oxfordshire authorities and partners on the plans to introduce any measures that are needed in our districts to help to handle a local outbreak should it occur and our staff would form part of a wider county wide effort should there be a need for a larger, combined response under the direction of the Director of Public Health.

You can find out more information on the new powers in the government’s local guide here.

 

Leisure Centres and open swimming pools/splash pad areas

There has understandably been some disappointment around our announcement that our outdoor pools and splash pads will not be opening across the districts this year. It was a very difficult decision to make given how popular these facilities are, and perhaps more so this year with the lock down and travel restrictions, but it simply wasn’t going to be possible to open them and protect residents at the same time.

We therefore wanted to share the reasons behind GLL’s decision, which we agreed with:

  • Opening the splash pads and pools would require implementing a Track and Trace System. This is not possible on the splash pads as they are unmanned so anyone developing Covid-19 symptoms could not inform others they may have been in contact with on the day.
  • As the splash pads are unmanned, we’d also be unable to control the numbers of people using them and therefore would not be able to ensure social distancing was observed.
  • It would not be possible to clean the facilities regularly enough to comply with the guidelines to keep the area Covid-safe. There’s also the added risk that the cleaning products required to tackle the virus, which contain substances like bleach, would end up washed into the river, causing significant harm to the environment and wildlife.
  • The water used in the splash pad isn’t chemically treated and therefore heightens the safety risk.
  • The nature of the facilities means water can end up in and out of people’s mouths, which heightens the risks around spreading the virus.
  • The pool would need to be limited to lane swimming only and not for family/fun activities.
  • The pool would be limited to how many people can use it at any one time. Only 16 swimmers could use it each hour compared to 80 normally.
  • It takes between two and four weeks to get an outdoor pool ready in a normal season, which runs until early September.  With the additional requirements to comply with the government’s Covid-19 guidance there would be very little of the season left to justify operating.

 

Greater support to help people live independently

We have made it easier for people with disabilities, or who are vulnerable, to receive housing assistance grants and loans. This support is to help make their homes safer and more comfortable, to support them to live independently and to reduce hospital admissions.

While we’ve always provided a grants and loans service for vulnerable people to help their homes better suit their needs, our new Housing Assistance Grants and Loans policy 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, we are working to improve the service in order to reduce the waiting times for work to be carried out.

The first step for anybody who wants to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant is to contact an Occupational Therapist to see if they’re eligible. For more information on applying for grants and loans please see our South and Vale dedicated website page.

 

South Oxfordshire Local Plan examination update

More than 800 people logged on to watch the first week of the public examination of the emerging South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2034, with over 150 people subscribing to watch the sessions regularly.

The matters discussed in week one included: Housing requirement, Housing trajectory and housing supply, Housing for everyone, and Design and Density.

Week two has so far focussed on Spatial Strategy and the Green Belt. The rest of the agenda for this week is:

  • Thursday 23 July
    • 10am – Matter 7: Infrastructure (strategic);
    • 2pm – Matter 8: Climate change mitigation.
  • Friday 24 July
    • Matter 9: Employment development; Inspector’s announcements

You can view the live feed online by visiting the examination hearing’s YouTube page.

For further information please visit – southoxon.gov.uk/examination.

 

Latest update on Civil Parking Enforcement

We have been involved in ongoing discussions on Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) in Oxfordshire –where local authorities take over control of on-street parking enforcement, a responsibility that currently lies with Thames Valley Police in our areas.

A working group of Oxfordshire County Council, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and Cherwell district councils agreed to jointly investigate the feasibility of this for our districts.

A feasibility study was carried out by experts in this matter – RTA Associates and the county council is currently seeking views from the Department of Transport before considering any detailed programme for introducing CPE locally.

The county council and each of the districts would then need Cabinet approval to make an application to the government based on the recommendations of the final report. The councils are all aiming to seek the relevant approvals by October 2020.

Assuming all the authorities approve the proposals, CPE could be brought into effect in our area as early as November 2021.

In the meantime, and until CPE is implemented, any on-street enforcement like parking on double yellow lines is the responsibility of Thames Valley Police and should be reported by calling 101.

Reading Transport Strategy 2036

Reading Borough Council is seeking people’s views on its draft Transport Strategy 2036.  Their consultation is open until 30 August.

 

Communications

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils

01235 422400

www.southoxon.gov.uk | @southoxon

www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk | @whitehorsedc

District Councillors Report for July 2020 now available online

District Councillors Report for July 2020 now available online

 

Playgrounds and outdoor gyms advice

The government has just published this guidance and practical advice on how outdoor gym and playgrounds can be reopened and managed effectively to enable their use while minimising risk of transmitting COVID-19.

We are currently considering how and if we can re-open each of our own play areas safely, including any new signage we may need to put in place.  Where we can re-open a play area, we will encourage people to wash their hands before and after they visit, maintain social distancing, and to come back at a quieter time if the area looks busy.  

We will only re-open play areas when we have done our safety checks and put clear signage in place.  We continue to urge people not to use any play area equipment or enter play areas that are out of use or closed off.

Leisure centres update

 As things stand, indoor gyms and swimming pools must remain closed and we are still waiting for the government to confirm the timetable for them to reopen.  In the meantime, we are continuing to work on potential reopening plans to ensure we are ready once we’ve been given the go-ahead. 

New signage

Over the coming days we will be placing new signs around our public toilets to remind people to maintain social distancing and to wash their hands.  Our ‘Stay Safe, Give Space’ message will also be stencilled at key locations in our car parks, parks and mobile home parks.

Shielding guidance relaxed

You may have seen the government is relaxing the guidance for residents who are currently shielding from today (Monday 6 July).

We want all of our shielding residents to be aware that even after the guidance has been relaxed, we’re still available to provide support and advice – they can continue to call 01235 422600 or email communitysupport@southandvale.gov.uk.  Lines are open 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday.

If you weren’t aware – the changes that come into place on 6 July state that people who are shielding:

  • can meet in a group of up to 6 people outdoors, including people from different households, while maintaining strict social distancing

  • no longer need to observe social distancing with other members of their household

  • can form a ‘support bubble’ with one other household – all those in a support bubble will be able to spend time together inside each other’s homes, including overnight, without needing to socially distance.

    You can find the full details about how shielding arrangements are changing on the government’s website.

     

Virtual meetings update

We are currently testing a system to allow you, the general public and other organisations to take part directly in our online committee meetings.

The meetings are currently working well, and many town and parish councils and members of the public have contributed by providing a written statement, although 

officers hope to have the new system up and running very soon.

Cabinet takes place online this Thursday (9th July) followed by full council on 16th July. All meetings can be streamed via meeting links on the SODC website.

The Examination in Public of the Local Plan is also due to be streamed live, starting on 14th July. Berinsfield issues are due to be discussed at 2pm on 30th July.

New Thames Champion for South Oxfordshire

Cllr Jo Robb, ward councillor for Woodcote and Rotherfield, is taking on the newly created role of Thames Champion.  The River Thames is one of our most precious natural assets and Cllr Robb will be networking with river users, councillors and neighbouring councils to improve access to the river, and to protect and enhance its biodiversity and cleanliness. 

Open for Business

Through our various social media profiles, following work from SODC licensing, environmental health and business support teamns, we’re helping to spread the word that town centres, shops and businesses are now open, and how shoppers can get involved while – importantly – staying safe. We’re joining the national social media campaign #OpenForBusiness to show the extra hard work staff in the shops and parishes have put in to reopen and protect their customers and staff.

Local shops and businesses can join in using the hashtags #OpenForBusiness #ShopLocalStaySafe and tagging @southoxon.

We’ll retweet or share your post to help spread the word that the shop has opened and is ready for customers.

Robin Bennett

 

 

District Councillor’s Report

Recent storm damage to horse chestnut tree ref 11

There have been comments and complaints online about work done to a tree in the recreation ground following a large limb loss.
The Parish Council uses a pool of tree tree surgeons depending upon availability, price and complexity of the work involved. On this occasion, work was carried out by Jenks Oxford, who have been carrying out tree works for the Council for several years now and had recently been awarded the contract to manage all the councils trees in the village per a tree survey carried out in November 2018. Jenks are Arboricultural Association Approved and carry out work for the County Council as well as a variety of major companies.
As a result of the complaints, the Parish Council asked the company it uses for tree surveys to visit and assess the work. Sarah Venners is not connected to any of the tree surgeons that we use – it is standard practice to employ one firm to carry out surveys and another to carry out the work – and her report is as follows. Given Sarah’s conclusions, the council is happy that the work has been carried out to standard.
—–
Given the urgent nature of this case, I popped out earlier this afternoon to see the tree. I have the following comments to make which I would like you to relay to the concerned residents and to the Parish Council on Wednesday evening:

T11 is a mature Horse Chestnut. The survey carried out in November 2018 recorded the tree as having a crown break at 2m with multiple large limbs from this point with good unions. Deadwood was observed throughout, but the crown was in good form and vigour (despite previous pruning to reduce limbs overhanging the field). Given its form of multiple branching habit from 2m, it is highly likely that this tree was once historically managed as a pollard – where the branches are cut back to a knuckle every 5 – 8 years to promote the grown of a dense regrowth of foliage and branches. The branch attachments from the pollard knuckle are much weaker than if the tree is left to grow in a natural form and therefore pollarding needs to be done on a cyclical basis in order to minimise the risk of branch failure. Horse Chestnut timber is not very dense, is structurally quite brittle and degrades quickly, so it is likely that this management practice on Chestnuts was only really done for amenity purposes and to keep the tree small and manageable.

T11 is what is known as a ‘neglected pollard’. These are commonly seen in urban environments and the risk associated with these types of trees is high, given the targets around them. The canopy of this tree overhangs the Recreation Ground and a road and as typical of neglected pollards, its branches were very heavy around the edge of the pollard knuckle. Failure in pollards often involves snapping of top-heavy new branches and splitting at the pollard point – and it is the latter that has happened to T11. The failure to keep the tree re-pollarded has enabled it to develop larger and heavier scaffold limbs from the pollard point, one of which has catastrophically failed – causing the limb loss that can be seen today.

Management recommendations in November 2018 for this tree were to have the entire crown reduced by 2-3 metres within 24 months of the date of the report, because the wood of a Chestnut is very brittle and suffers readily from summer branch drop and wind loading failure. A crown reduction (like Jenks have now done) would have reduced the weight of the scaffold limbs and relieved the loading on the unions at the pollard point, potentially preventing the failure that has now happened. The recommended work would have been scheduled in by Dorchester Parish Council for the next tranche of tree works this autumn (2020).

Unfortunately, we have had some periods of unusually high, prolonged winds this year and it is therefore likely that in conjunction with the very dry spring period of April and May, the tree became drought stressed at a time when it would have been building up its carbohydrate reserves for the year and this has resulted in a phenomenon known as Summer Branch Drop – where the heaviest and weakest limbs simply drop without warning.

Given the failure that has occurred, Jenks Tree Surgeons were called in to make the tree safe. Jenks are an established and reputable tree survey company that are qualified and knowledgeable when it comes to tree science. They understood that this tree needed to be made safe and by only tidying up the limb that failed would have left the other limbs exposed to an altered wind loading which would likely see the same failure happen again to another large branch in the next period of high winds. By removing the weight from the whole crown, Jenks have likely prevented the same failure happening on other scaffold limbs and thereby enabled the crown to still retain some of its form in the landscape. As they have left enough leaf area where they were able to, the tree still has some reserves to enable it to respond well to this work and we will see over the next few years, the sprouting of prolific new growth from the cut points. This re-growth will need to be managed going forward as a pollard on a cyclical bases. I can assure you that the work that has been carried out is entirely appropriate and correct and in accordance with British Standards 3998:2010. The work they have done has in fact saved the tree from having to be reduced completely to a monolith and has likely extended its life cycle by another 20 years or so. If they hadn’t reduced the whole crown, other limbs would have failed like the one that did last week. The work that has been done was the only sound arboricultural management option to make the tree safe whilst giving it a chance to be retained and recover.

Lockdown Limericks

First, apologies that this post has taken so long to get out, I am sure it is old news to a lot of you, but I felt it may still be of interest to some.


While out exercising, or walking your dog you will come across some yellow and red A4 posters dotted around the Village titled “Lockdown Limericks”. Composed by our own villagers they are reflections on the strange times we’re living through – the Corona Virus Pandemic of 2020. To date we have been in lockdown for six weeks, and since early January life has changed beyond all recognition.

Limericks are brief, witty, memorable and familiar verses, providing one ideal format for recording and reminding us of our community experience of the pandemic.

Far from being trite, some of the limericks express our shared sadness of loss:

There has been a tragedy here.
Of a Thursday, she’s come out to cheer.
Now all that is left
Is a family bereft.
Cold coffee, and vaporised tears.
TW

Others share our frustration with the Government’s response:

For this I make no apology
Our leaders are not what they ought to be.
They blag all the time
About taxes and crime
But they’re stumped on epidemiology
PC

Many express our gratitude to the NHS and Careworkers:

So here’s to the critical workers
The dustmen and medic researchers.
I’ve written these verses
In praise of the nurses
And all who are there to support us.
IS

Of course the creeping boredom of lockdown:

The lockdown has got me quite floored
I’ve read all the books that I stored.
And even at stages
I’ve read Yellow Pages
Do you think I’m a tiny bit bored?
IB

There are 24 Lockdown Limericks and together they cover many aspects of our shared experience: admiration for Captain Tom, appreciation of the COOP, the scarcity of loo paper and pasta, the closure of our Village pubs, the disappearance of cold calls, putting on weight and much, much more.

Thank you to every villager who has contributed a verse. This time next year, and in five and ten years time we will recall this Great Pandemic in many different ways. Hopefully these limericks will help remind us of our shared experience, with a smile.

Adrian Brooks

A full list of Limericks can be found at on our main Lockdown Limericks page