Electoral Commission
As most people will know, the neat West Oxfordshire arrangements, in place since 1983, where the parliamentary, district and county council boundaries all match is coming to an end. This is to ensure that each seat has roughly the same number of residents, and reflects the significant population growth in many places, including where we live. Most other parts of Oxfordshire already have a much more complex setup.
For parliamentary purposes, Eynsham moves into the new Bicester and Woodstock constituency, which makes an arc around the north of Oxford. Stanton Harcourt and places south and west go into a reshaped Witney constituency, along with a chunk of the area south of the river including Faringdon.
The County electoral divisions are also under review. Recommendations from OCC, agreed by an all-party working group under an independent chair, will go to the Electoral Commission, which will run a public consultation after the May deadline. The proposal for the new Eynsham Division is largely as today, but with the two parishes of Standlake and Aston, Cote and Chimney becoming part of a new South Carterton and Bampton division. The detail is in Item 14 of the March agenda.
Regardless of the new boundaries, I will of course continue to give my attention to all residents in the division I am honoured to represent. The new boundaries will be in place for the next set of OCC elections in 2025.
Home to School Transport
Arrangements for school transport concern all the pupils who get the bus to Eynsham secondary school. I don’t think OCC has handled recent changes well and we have apologised to parents who have been affected. The Council provides more than it is required to do by law, and more than its funding permits, but then the law doesn’t reflect the real needs of residents or the unfairnesses that a fixed policy creates. A working party has recommended some substantial changes. Where there are issues, we are committed to finding solutions.
I am pleased that the First and Last Mile service, run by a brilliant volunteer team, is a key provider of services into Bartholomew from the south. And I am grateful that parents entrust their children to the service. That provides a win-win: a good school service and a regular timetabled bus. They are always on the lookout for volunteer drivers.
Verges
The County Council has adopted a new verges policy and is urging other councils including parishes to consider whether they might adopt it too. It was developed by researchers at the University and aims to promote biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions.
Retrofitting, insulation etc.
The County Council has been awarded £6.4m to support residents to upgrade their houses. The start date for applications was 1 April.
Cost of living measures
A range of measures totalling £9.5m to support residents with the cost of living was agreed by cabinet for 2023/24. They are funded mostly through national grants, but with £2.3m from OCC. They include council tax support, practical support for those leaving hospital, and significant funding for children in receipt of free school meals during school holidays. A new Local Crisis Fund (administered by district councils) has also been established.
Roads and transport
Potholes: You will have noticed the appalling state of the roads. The County Council is fixing them as fast as it can and the improved weather will make this easier. The annual spend on core capital roads maintenance is approximately £35m, of which c £16m has been covered by central government, and an additional £3m was awarded in the last budget. We estimate that it would cost about £45m pa to provide what is required. There is as you can see a large annual shortfall which recent government announcements have not filled.
Botley Road: As you will be aware, Botley Road is closed to motor vehicles at the railway, for the station to be rebuilt. The current closure will last till October, with another from March - October 2024. The S1 is going via the A40 and Woodstock Road to the station. A shuttle E1 is running every half hour from Acre End St to Osney and I can recommend it, given the lack of traffic on Botley Road. Pedestrians and cyclists can use the tunnel under the railway. So far, people seem to be adjusting well to the unfortunate set of closures.
A34: The A34 is controlled by Highways England, and there are night-time and weekend closures on the section between Wolvercote and Abingdon. This clearly is avoidable for Eynsham residents if they are aware of the issue. The diversion signs take traffic round the Oxford ring road, but we can nonetheless expect some people to use the Farmoor route.
A40: No formal update I am afraid. We are still waiting for proposals on how to fit the A40 upgrade plans into the money available. You will recall that this is money from Homes England, relating to the development of Salt Cross, in the deal inherited from the previous administrations in the city and district, and that the grant no longer covers the original plans. I am expecting plans to appear this month.
The Shores Green junction, which will make the easterly junction near Witney four-way, will go to planning approval soon. The concerns of South Leigh PC about ensuring that it doesn’t increase rat-running through South Leigh led to a deferral of the planning consideration
Councillor priority fund
Applications to the councillor priority fund have reopened. The application process has slightly changed, requiring an online application and an email / letter of support of the councillor. Eligible organisations include, registered charities, not for profit companies, community or voluntary groups, and parish councils/meetings. Grants cannot be made to individuals, profit making organisations and private limited companies. Projects seeking funding must be deliverable by March 2025
Dan Levy: 07852 748 362 / dan.levy@oxfordshire.gov.uk