Andy Mitchell (Local Democracy Reporter)
Latest news and stories
-
Crumbling bridges set to cost County Council £80m over the next five years
The county’s cabinet issued the warning while discussing its Highways Asset Management Strategy & Policy, which sets out its approach to looking after the county’s pavements, cycle paths, roads and bridges.
-
Oxford City Council asks public whether full council tax support should be scrapped
The council is asking the public whether all working-age residents should pay up to £2 per week in council tax to help ease financial pressures.
-
West Oxfordshire District Taxi operators ask to increase fares
More than 20 of the 105 drivers or operators licensed by the district called on the council for the ability to charge more based on inflation and rising fuel costs.
-
Expected revenue from Castle Quay plummets by nearly £1m
Cherwell District Council’s latest monthly performance, risk and finance monitoring report revealed that it anticipates net revenue from the centre to be much lower than initially budgeted.
-
Cherwell council leader wants to keep cash option for car park payment machines
The authority’s executive this week agreed to enter a five-year arrangement for Oxfordshire County Council to oversee enforcement of Cherwell’s car parks in Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington.
-
Cherwell council housing lead insists homeless not being forced to leave the area
The council issued an apology for the wording of a monthly performance report that detailed how the housing team “has been looking at areas outside Cherwell” for homeless households.
-
Camera-controlled road closures outside schools recommended for permanent rollout
The recommendation to permanently implement the School Streets programme by the councillor in charge of Oxfordshire’s highways will apply to four Oxfordshire primary schools at drop-off and pick-up times.
-
County Council set to take charge of car parks in Cherwell district
It is anticipated that move will streamline enforcement, save the Cherwell County Council around £100k anually, and speed up card payments.
-
New homes to be built next to historic Stow House
Four new homes on the grounds of a historic house to the northwest of Reading scraped through the South Oxfordshire District Council planning process despite objections over their scale.
-
Ex-planning chair in a call to arms over housing land supply in West Oxfordshire
The advice comes from council officers after an inspector ruled that the land set aside for new homes in the region had been overestimated by up to a quarter.
-
Plans for eight homes in Enstone rejected by West Oxfordshire district councillors
West Oxfordshire district councillors went against the advice of planning officers and rejected plans for eight homes in Enstone.
-
West Oxfordshire Council to pay planning appeal costs over “vague” report
The council has been ordered to pay the planning appeal costs, after it was found to have made “vague” and “unsupported” assertions, despite it’s original decision being upheld.
-
Inspector finds West Oxfordshire DC has overestimated housing land supply
The finding comes as part of an appeal that was dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate – a national body that has the final say when applicants are unhappy with outcomes from councils.
-
Chiltern Edge School at risk of closure now rated ‘Good’ by OFSTED school inspectors
The school, located in Reades Lane, Sonning Common and serving pupils from South Oxfordshire and Caversham, received the ‘Good’ rating at its first inspection as an academy.
-
County councillor questions bus access in Broad Street pedestrianisation proposals
The County Council’s cycling champion has described the new shared space proposals for Broad Street, Oxford, as “brave and symbolic” while arguing they do not go far enough.
-
Bicester “rubbish” location for rail freight hub according to county councillor
The blistering address from the county’s cabinet member for climate change delivery & environment, supported the County Council’s response, raising concern over the proposals.