Andy Mitchell (Local Democracy Reporter)
Latest news and stories
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Appeal sees farm get its glamping wagons months after council rejection
The Lowlands planning committee at West Oxfordshire District Council had initially turned down an application from Church Farm on Church End in South Leigh, for three glamping wagons.
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Developer asks for second shot at plans for 450 homes in Witney
The Lowlands planning committee at West Oxfordshire District Council had been advised to throw out the outline application to develop two parcels of land – Cogges Triangle and Cogges South – covering approximately 23 ha.
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County councillor alleges staff suggested that SEND parents “give up their children”
Oxfordshire County Council insists staff “don’t recognise” a councillor’s allegation that parents pushing for special education needs services have been presented with the idea of giving up their children.
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Council cabinet member faces questions on Oxford United’s new stadium proposal
This week’s meeting of the full council saw Councillor Calum Miller (Lib Dem, Otmoor), the county’s cabinet member for finance, face two very different questions on the proposals in quick succession.
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Comparisons between the Didcot road project and paused A40 improvement plans dismissed
Work is to continue on a major road-building project in Didcot after comparisons with the paused A40 improvement plans were dismissed.
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Green light for 400 apartments and a hotel at Thornhill Park Oxford Development
The plans for more than 400 apartments alongside a hotel, gym and restaurant at Thornhill Park, Oxford, received unanimous backing from the city’s planning committee.
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County Council appoints new Chief Executive amid debate over how long it took
Dr Martin Reeves is set to switch from the same role at Coventry City Council, a post he has held since 2009, after the move was confirmed at a meeting of the full council on Tuesday, 13 December.
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Councillor Emily Smith steps down from leadership role at Vale district
She has taken a new full-time job with a local charity and put forward her deputy Councillor Bethia Thomas (Lib Dem, Faringdon) as her replacement.
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Government funding could be affected if county resists maximum council tax hike
The county’s cabinet member for finance, was fielding questions from the performance and corporate services overview and scrutiny committee over initial proposals for the council’s budget from April 2023.
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1,400 households in Vale of White Horse to be lifted out of paying council tax from April
District councillors at the Vale unanimously agreed to remove the restrictions requiring low-income households to contribute towards their annual council tax bill.
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Call to pause work on Eynsham park and ride during A40 project review
That was the view of Oxfordshire County Council’s active travel champion Councillor Dan Levy, the Liberal Democrat member who also represents Eynsham.
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Oxford’s traffic filters approved despite objection from within the council’s cabinet
The decision was made amid an acrimonious atmosphere following a debate featuring more than 50 opinions from the public.
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County Council to quell rising children’s services costs by “revising thresholds
In its latest financial report to cabinet, the council predicts it will overspend by £8.7m on children’s services in this financial year, much of which is due to children placed into social care.
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Planning decisions will be affected as West Oxfordshire council confirms housing land shortfall
The council has published that it can evidence only a 4.1-year supply for new homes versus the 5-year target set by the government of its local plan to carry full weight when planning applications come forward.
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New Chief Constable says domestic abuse stance fuelled by personal tragedy
Jason Hogg, who currently serves as Deputy Chief Constable, is set to step up to the top job when incumbent John Campbell retires at the end of March 2023.
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Independent candidate questions political balance of Thames Valley Police & Crime Panel
The political balance of a group of councillors tasked with holding to account Thames Valley’s Police & Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber has again been called into question.