Category: Council

What is Neighbourhood Planning?

Pressure on planning and development has increased dramatically in recent years and will continue to do so. As a result, in the last Parliament the Government decided to give local communities a say in how development proceeds in their areas. Neighbourhood planning is a community right introduced under the Localism Act 2011. It enables communities to shape development in their areas through the production of a Neighbourhood Plan. Plans can then become part of the District Council’s Local Plan and the policies contained within them are then used to determine planning applications. They cannot be used to block development that is already part of the Local Plan, but they can be used to shape where that development will go and what it will look like. Neighbourhood Plans require specialist expertise and are expensive to produce and are well beyond the means of smaller communities such as Duns Tew.

What is the Mid-Cherwell Neighbourhood Plan (MCNP)?

In order to enable smaller villages and communities to benefit from a Neighbourhood Plan that would otherwise be unaffordable, eleven villages, of which Duns Tew is one, have come together in association with the Dorchester Group (Owners and Developers of Heyford Park) to produce a Neighbourhood Plan for Mid-Cherwell.

The MCNP is administered by the MCNP Forum, which is made up of representatives of the participating villages and the Dorchester Group.

This initiative could play an important role in shaping the future of our local villages by determining, with statutory force, what development might be welcome and what might not be. The engagement of local people is essential to the process and you will shortly be hearing about local meetings in all the villages. In the meantime, please look at the Neighbourhood Plan website and or ask to be kept updated by email.

Why is Duns Tew involved?

Duns Tew is classified as a Category C village, which means the only development permitted is in-fill or conversions. However, the Parish Council felt it important to become part of a wider community that shares the same concerns. The Parish Council has been working very closely with the Dorchester Group since early 2014 to ensure Duns Tew is at the forefront of the decision making process and to try and protect the village from speculative development. The aims and objectives of the Mid-Cherwell Neighbourhood Plan, and a list of all the eleven villages participating can be viewed on their website: www.mid-cherwell.org.uk

Community Engagement

The Mid-Cherwell Neighbourhood Plan has to be compatible with Cherwell District Council’s Local Plan. Work has already begun and is scheduled for completion by April 2017. For it to succeed and represent the views of all residents successfully, each village is currently arranging “Community Engagement” meetings throughout 2016.

HELP REQUIRED

The village has a simple Emergency Plan that outlines a series of common sense procedures, identifies key individuals and resources, and provides a list of useful contact numbers.

What it lacks at present is a list of those with medical skills, any doctor, nurse, or trained First Responder who would be willing to add their name to the key individuals list.

In addition we need to identify those who would be willing to offer up equipment for use in an emergency, such as a generator, tractor, or digger.

The only requirement is to allow your name and a contact number to be added to the Emergency Plan list, which is currently limited to members of the Parish Council only.

So if you are willing to help or even to be part of the Emergency Response Team, please get hold of Charles McBean or any other member of the Parish Council with your details and what it is you are willing to provide.

— Duns Tew Parish Council

Thanks to those residents who attended the MCNP meeting on Monday 4th April. The Parish Council felt it was a very successful evening with many worthwhile questions being asked leading to hopefully a better understanding of the Plan.

Our thanks to Peter Weston for his help and for looking after the bar. Also our thanks to Russell for helping to wash up – as they say “every little helps”

It is intended to have a follow up meeting in Mid June (date to be advised). We should have made considerable progress to report back to you by then, including:

• numbers and percentages of views expressed in Feb/Mar on the key issues for the neighbourhood
• the revised list of objectives for the neighbourhood plan (as further modified by topic working groups meeting this month)
• results of a housing needs survey across the neighbourhood (which has just been approved by Locality, and will be carried out in May)
• results of various actions by the working groups, collecting evidence, and corresponding with or meeting with various external bodies

The Council regret to announce the resignation of Councillor Rebecca Cooper, who will be moving to Sussex at the end of April. Beccy has only been a member of the Council for a short time but her enthusiasm and work for the Council has been much appreciated.

We now have three vacancies on the Parish Council due to the previous resignations of Fiona Gilje and Simon Keeping.

If you would be interested in joining the Parish Council please write to the Parish Clerk expressing your interest. For more information or to discuss the vacancy please contact the Parish Clerk.

To qualify as a Parish Councillor you must be over 18 and one of the following;

• A local government elector in the parish
• An owner or tenant in the parish for the last 12 months
• Have worked in the parish for the last 12 months
• Have lived within 3 miles of the parish boundary for the last 12 months.

Closing date for applications – 10:00 on 18th May 2015

Mrs. Hilary Skaar – Parish Clerk
The New House, Duns Tew. Bicester, OX25 6JR
01869 340269
pfsfin2@aol.com

The Council is considering joining the Speedwatch scheme in partnership with Thames Valley Police. We need volunteers to carry out checks and collect data. The Council will provide the necessary equipment and the police will provide training. A minimum of two people are required to carry out each exercise. It should not take more than two to three hours on days and times to suit the volunteers.

Anyone who would like to Volunteer for this please contact the Parish Clerk

Dear Residents of Duns Tew,

Thank you to all of you who made an effort to tidy the village whether that be around your own property but especially to those who volunteered to tidy the communal areas and roads; it really is hugely appreciated and once again the village is looking good. Thank you to one resident in particular who volunteered as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme; your contribution was most welcome!

Having previously collected rubbish along the roads coming into the village myself, I can sympathise with one volunteer who tidied the North Aston Road. The two most common litter items were empty tins of Café Cremes cigars and Stella Artois cans. This is always the case along this road so whoever the habitual Café Cremes smoker is and who ever the regular Stella drinker is can you please take your rubbish home rather than discard it onto the grass verge?

Many thanks.

The Parish Council, PCC

Notice of uncontested election

• COOPER, Rebecca Claire
  
• GILJE, Fiona Carolyn
• GREGORY, Peter David
• KEEPING, Simon Charles
• SCOTCHBROOK, Jonathan David
• STRANKS, Roger
• WESTON, Barbara Jean

May we express our enormous gratitude to everyone who volunteered to help with the Spring Clean. It was lovely to have the PCC, Village Hall Committee and residents of the village working together for such a good cause. What’s more, the amount of rubbish collected along the roads was far less than on previous years so well done!

— the Parish Council

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