Category: Council

Road safety news from the Parish Council

Road safety news from the Parish Council

An initiative from the Parish Council (PC) resulted in a visit from the Technical Officer of Oxfordshire Highways. As a result of a walk through the village where issues were discussed, the following actions will be taken

Safety on the A4260 junction

This is a known issue by OCC (and by all drivers in Duns Tew!) but it is on a long list of jobs to be looked at. In the meantime it was agreed that all the signs would be cleaned (done), new arrows painted to make traffic movement clearer (done), an early grass cut in the Spring to keep the area right down the the speed camera clear and regular cuts though the growing season. (wait and see!)

In the long run there is a suggestion that traffic lights may be a solution here but it is a long way down the OCC list. Reducing the speed on the A4260 is regarded as costly and would require political will higher up than PC and police support.

Speeding control in the village and horse riding safety

White village entrance ‘gates’ to be cleaned, new sign asking for people to drive slowly and PC to purchase horses signs for the three entrance ‘gates’. A new horse sign in the Middle Barton Road just before entering village.

Road narrowing signs at the pinch point close to Midsummer Cottage and possibly ‘SLOW” painted on the road.

In addition, the possible use of ‘Sentinel’ camera which takes vehicle registration numbers. These are then passed on to police and letters are sent. On a third ‘offence’ a police officer will visit the owner of the vehicle and have a chat!

In addition, a letter has been written to our MP, County and District Councillors outlining the dangers present at this junction due to increased traffic. The MP has acknowledged the letter and asks to be kept informed as does our County Councillor.

Written by Jamie Hall Published on Published on Posted in Council, News Comments 3 comments

Duns Tew community play park fully funded

Thanks to essential funding received from Viridor Credits Environmental Company, Duns Tew parish council is delighted to be able to begin the development of the community play park and recreation area.

Currently we have a large, rarely used, area of uneven field, only accessible across the tennis court. We also have a small seating area, equipment for toddlers, and a tennis court, which has no boundary fence. The aim of development is to open up this area to all.

Duns Tew community play park fully funded

Our development plan will create:

  1. paths and seating to enable access for our older community, buggies, and wheelchairs, as well as a meeting space for everyone, particularly our teens
  2. a flattened pitch for football/cricket, and a tennis court boundary fence to allow easy access to sports and leisure
  3. climbing, swinging and zip-wire equipment to entertain older children who currently don’t use our play area or climb on toddler equipment.

Age appropriate equipment will offer opportunities for motor skill development as well as a pleasant outdoor recreational facility.

In addition to the path, flattened pitch and play equipment listed above, plans also include a seating and BBQ area, which can be used for community events. This will provide our village with a much-needed, communal green space. It will also provide residents with another opportunity to have social contact without leaving the village. This is particularly important for some isolated older people who may not drive or have family nearby. Families with children who normally drive to parks in different villages will be able to stay in the village, use the car less, and use the village amenities such as the pub – again fostering our community and social inclusion.

Duns Tew community play park fully funded

The Parish Council’s own reserves were far from sufficient to cover this level of expenditure. This complete transformation has been made possible by generous donations from local groups, residents, and the grant from Viridor Credits.

Duns Tew community play park fully funded

Viridor Credits Environmental Company 

Viridor Credits funds community, heritage and biodiversity projects through the Landfill Communities Fund and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund.  Over £139,000,000 has been awarded by Viridor Credits over the last 18 years.

Duns Tew community play park fully funded

The Landfill Communities Fund

The Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) is a tax credit scheme enabling Landfill Operators (LOs) to contribute money to organisations enrolled with ENTRUST as Environmental Bodies (EBs). They use this funding for a wide range of community and environmental projects in the vicinity of landfill sites.

Written by Jamie Hall Published on Published on Posted in Council, News, Village Tagged as Park

Mid Cherwell Neighbourhood Older Person’s Housing Survey

One of the of the MCNPs key policies is to improve the quality of life for older residents and this survey is important to help steer possible future projects in the neighbourhood – and in particular the proposed major facility for older people at Heyford Park.

The closing date for the return (in the pre-paid envelope) is December 18th.  You may already have had a survey through your door or will have one shortly. If you have not had one and would like one, or you would like one for a relative who might want to move locally if suitable homes were available, please email the clerk on clerk@dunstew.com

Written by Jamie Hall Published on Published on Posted in Council, News, Village

NOTICE OF PUBLIC RIGHTS AND PUBLICATION OF UNAUDITED ANNUAL GOVERNANCE & ACCOUNTABILITY RETURN

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2019

Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 Sections 26 and 27 The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/234)

1. Date of announcement: 19th June 2019

2. Each year the smaller authority’s Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) needs to be reviewed by an external auditor appointed by Smaller Authorities’ Audit Appointments Ltd. The unaudited AGAR has been published with this notice. As it has yet to be reviewed by the appointed
auditor, it is subject to change as a result of that review.

Any person interested has the right to inspect and make copies of the accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those records must be made available for inspection by any person interested. For the year ended 31st March 2019, these documents will be available on reasonable notice by application to:
Jean Ralfe, Duns Tew Parish Clerk and RFO.
Email: dunstewparishcouncil@aol.com or clerk@dunstew.com
Phone: 01869 349012

commencing on: Friday 20th June 2019
and ending on: Friday 2nd August 2019

3. Local government electors and their representatives also have:

  • The opportunity to question the appointed auditor about the accounting records; and
  • The right to make an objection which concerns a matter in respect of which the appointed auditor could either make a public interest report or apply to the court for a declaration that an item of account is unlawful. Written notice of an objection must first be given to the auditor and a copy sent to the smaller authority.

The appointed auditor can be contacted at the address in paragraph 4 below for this purpose between the above dates only.

4. The smaller authority’s AGAR is subject to review by the appointed auditor under the provisions of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 and the NAO’s Code of Audit Practice 2015. The appointed auditor is:

Moore Stephens, (Ref SW/cc)
Rutland House, Minerva Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough
PE2 6PZ

5. This announcement is made by Jean Ralfe.

You can download a copy of this notice below:

notice_of_public_rightsDownload
Written by Jamie Hall Published on Published on Posted in Council

Extraordinary meeting of the Parish Council

Duns Tew Village Hall – Monday 17th June 2019 – 19:30-21:30

MEMBERS OF THE PARISH AND PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND

AGENDA

  1. Apologies for absence
  2. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and Dispensations:
    1. To receive any declarations of pecuniary interest from Councillors relating to items on the agenda, in accordance with the Council’s code of conduct and consider any requests for dispensations.
    2. To review and update the record of members interests.
  3. Finance
    1. To receive and note the Internal Auditors Report
    2. To receive and agree the Annual Accounts, Annual Return and Statement of Internal Controls
    3. To receive and agree the Asset Register
    4. To receive and agree the Effectiveness of the internal Audit report
    5. To receive and agree the Risk Assessment
  4. Public Participation – To receive questions from members of the public relating to items on the agenda, in accordance with the Council’s code of conduct & standing orders
  5. Date of next meeting – 1st July 2019
Written by Jamie Hall Published on Published on Posted in Council

Open Village Invitation to discuss the proposal for a Solar Energy Park

Monday 10th June, from 19:30 to 21:00, at the village hall

We have invited Ed Jessamine to attend for the first 30 minutes to update us on the project.

After that we are inviting you to put forward your questions and views regarding the project so that the Parish Council can reflect the village views if the scheme progresses to a planning application Please come along no matter if you support or are against the project – the more views and questions we are aware of the better we can represent you.

The planning committee is made up of Harriet Stapleton (Chair), David Jackson, and Tom Linley.

There is an opportunity to visit the existing solar park on the 9th June for Open Farm Sunday when Aspens are going to be present.

It would be helpful to have an idea of numbers so if you are planning to come on the 10th June please drop an email to harriet.stapleton@dunstew.com

Written by Jamie Hall Published on Published on Posted in Council, News