FROM CLLR LORRAINE LINDSAY-GALE

OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL  |  WWW.NUNEHAMCOURTENAY.ORG.UK

 

BUDGET 

 

COMMUNITIES TO BE OFFERED HELP WITH YOUTH SERVICES  

Young people and their families in Oxfordshire are now set to benefit from improved community-run youth services if county councillors agree grant funding when they set the council’s budget next week. Youth groups will be invited to bid in to a £1m fund over two years, with encouragement to find match-funding from their local communities. Feedback from residents points to strong support for improving community-run youth services, and this money would help existing projects expand and new ones get off the ground. By offering start-up funding, the council has already helped many community-run groups provide support for young children and families, and it is hoped the same could happen for youth services. Community-run youth services would complement the work of the county council’s Children’s Services department, which targets its resources at children at risk of abuse and neglect. This proposal has been made possible by better than expected Council Tax collection following growth in Oxfordshire. 

 

COUNTY COUNCIL TO INVEST IN SCHOOLS, TRANSPORT AND STREETLIGHTING 

Residents of Oxfordshire will see highway improvements, new school buildings and energy-efficient streetlighting thanks to a £1 billion investment over the next ten years as part of the county council’s budget. However, the county council is also warning that funding pressure on services remains as demand for social care for vulnerable children and adults continues grow and continued financial prudence is required to meet those demands.  

Transport schemes across the county are set for funding approval so the county council can improve journeys for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users. Nearly £20m will be invested to increase the provision of school places for children with special needs in the county, including rebuilding Northfield School in Oxford with more pupil places.  

The proposed capital programme includes government funding through the Oxfordshire Growth Deal, agreed by all Oxfordshire councils. Elsewhere in the Capital Programme a £41m street lighting improvement programme continues to be part of the investment plan, with traditional lanterns to be replaced with more energy efficient LED lighting, saving money in the long-run. The ten-year capital programme is part of the council’s proposed budget for next year, which has been put forward following public consultation. The proposals will be put before all councillors on 12 February 2019. 

To make sure the growing number of children at risk of abuse and neglect are protected, the children’s social care budget has increased annually. It was £46m in 2011 and is forecast to be £95m in 2022/23 – more than doubling in ten years. 

The council’s budget for adult social care could increase by £5m in 2019/20, with further annual increases reaching nearly £6m by 2022/23 to increase support for the growing number of older and disabled people.  

OCC is now reviewing the digital technology needed to make the council run more effectively and efficiently, including improving customer service by making it easier to access services online. The council has identified savings of £50m from changing the way services are delivered and has already started implementing these changes, including improving online ‘self-service’ HR and finance systems used by staff. As part of the partnership with Cherwell District Council, legal services for the two councils are being joined up. 

 

 

CASH BOOST FOR FUTURE OF TRANSPORT IN OXFORDSHIRE 

Oxfordshire’s road users could see a technological revolution take place in the coming years that could involve important traffic information being used to help them to get around more easily thanks to a successful bid for £1.25m of Government funding. The cash, which has been through the national GovTech Catalyst initiative towards work to transform the existing Oxfordshire traffic management system – ready for the Government’s hoped-for introduction of connected vehicles by 2021 as well as other new mobility options, such as electric vehicles. Many people think of the new wave of transport in terms of cars. However, connected vehicles – anything that can be linked up via the internet to a wider system – could mean vans, buses, lorries, motor or pedal cycles. Even wheelchairs could take advantage of new technology to get around more easily. Everyone stands to benefit. Oxfordshire’s money will pay for researching how data – of which there is lots and from varied sources – could be used to help manage traffic in the future. 

 

MORE THAN 40,000 ROAD DEFECTS REPAIRED IN OXFORDSHIRE SINCE LAST WINTER 

OCC’s highways teams are out daily relentlessly resurfacing roads and pavements. They have been able to more work than last year thanks to the county council putting in extra cash over and above the normal budget in response to the problems caused during the last cold spell. Since January 2018 the council has repaired 40,117 defects. That’s an average of 3,652 repairs a month which is quite colossal compared to what was needed during the same time period the year before – a total of 34,677 defects were repaired between Jan-Dec 2017. Due to severe weather last winter, pothole fixing peaked between February and May with nearly 18,000 being repaired. The county council this year invested an extra £10m in road repairs which has resulted in extra major resurfacing projects being completed as well as smaller, but no less important, repairs being completed across Oxfordshire. 

 

 

BERINSFIELD BUS CLUB TO BE ESTABLISHED 

I am delighted that thanks to some great collaborative work between Jon Alcantara, the Europa School parent who runs the current Culham Bus Club, and the County Council, there will be a return bus service running from Berinsfield to Abingdon from now on. As it looks as if the Oxford Academy will be oversubscribed for places in September 2019, all new pupils getting places at Larkmead, Fitzharries, and John Mason will be entitled to free transport as their other nearest school (Wallingford) is also going to be full. I hope this great news will reassure parents that there will no longer be any financial barrier to their children going to the excellent Abingdon schools, which I know would be their preference. 

 

 

CULHAM TO GET SPEED LIMIT REDUCTION 

I agreed to fund an application from Culham Parish Council for a 40mph speed limit to be imposed all along the A415 between the 30mph limit at Abingdon and Culham, and along the length of the Burycroft. This new speed limit should be in place by early in April. 

 

 

END.

Oxfordshire County Council Report February 2019 

 

FROM CLLR LORRAINE LINDSAY-GALE

OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL  |  WWW.NUNEHAMCOURTENAY.ORG.UK

 

BUDGET PROPOSALS

Tough decisions taken since 2010 have created a route to financial stability at OCC as the council plans to set its 2019/20 budget at a time when all councils face financial challenges. The main budget proposals are:

• Investment of almost £6m by 2023 to increase care packages to meet assessed needs for adults with learning and physical disabilities. (Adult Social Care)
• An increase of £5.8m is proposed to be added to the budget in 2022/23 in adult social care to meet projected increased need as a result of the aging population. The council’s existing planning up to 2021/22 already includes provision for budget increases of £5.0m in 2019/20 and 2020/21 and £5.6m in 2021/22. (Adult Social Care)
• Invest £3.2m up to 2023 (£800,000 per year) to support the increasing number of children qualifying for school transport – in particular children with special educational needs. (Children, Education and Families)
• Invest £17m to support the predicted increasing numbers of children in care, including more permanent care staff (Children, Education and Families)

With regard to Council Tax, the council’s plan – agreed at the last budget in February 2018 – to raise Council Tax by 2.99 per cent in 2019/20 and 1.99 per cent in the years thereafter remains the same in the new budget proposals. However, funding for local government beyond 2020 is currently uncertain, with councils waiting for funding decisions from central government which will not be known until late 2019.

 

DELIVERING AN OLDER PEOPLE’S STRATEGY FOR OXFORDSHIRE

Living longer and living better is the drive behind a new Older People’s Strategy for Oxfordshire.

The strategy sets out how OCC and Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group will deliver a positive future for the county’s older population. It was developed following feedback over a three-month period. Residents, health and charity organisations, professionals, businesses, the public sector and community groups were engaged in the strategy development so it could be grounded in what people tell us matters most to them. The strategy’s vision and priorities were specifically co-produced with a wide range of people whose work and lives it affects. The strategy will be used to inform the planning, commissioning and delivery of services across Oxfordshire and will be monitored by the Better Care Fund Joint Management Group reporting to the Health and Wellbeing Board. To read the strategy and have your say online visit here https://consult.oxfordshireccg.nhs.uk/consult.ti/OPLLLB/consultationHome or request a paper copy of the strategy by calling 01865 334638. The closing date for comments is Feb 1, 2019.

 

DAYTIME SUPPORT SUSTAINABILITY GRANT AWARDS

Twenty-nine organisations have been recommended to receive grants from the county council’s adult social care Sustainability Fund. The fund was established last year as part of measures designed to enable the ongoing delivery of daytime support services in Oxfordshire. A grant pot of £250,000 was approved for 2019/20 and community and voluntary organisations were invited to apply for the fund between September 12 and November 2. To allocate the funding to as many organisations as possible, a panel of county councillors and people representing daytime services recommended that a maximum level of 70 per cent of the amount awarded in 2018/19 should be made where applicable. Among those services recommended for funding are Day Break Oxford (£50,000), Age UK (£27,500), October Club (£14,000) and Aspire (£12,500). Applications totalling £244,847 went before Cabinet on December 18.

 

SEND SUFFICIENCY STRATEGY GAINS APPROVAL

Plans to create significant new provision for Oxfordshire children with special educational needs (SEND) have been agreed by councillors, with a £15m investment set to create 300 new places which will involve a major rebuild for Northfield School in Oxford. The county council has conducted a wide-ranging review of its special educational needs provision in light of the large increases in the numbers of children with such needs entering the educational system in recent years and the forecast for continued increases in the future. The rebuild of Northfield School would be accompanied by a new school at Bloxham Grove in North Oxfordshire (due to open in 2020) and at Valley Park, Didcot (target date 2023) as part of a free school application process. At a national level, the Department for Education will be rolling out a new assessment approach for pupils with complex disabilities, from 2020. DfE has said “The statutory assessment will replace P scales 1 to 4 and will be based on the ‘7 aspects of engagement’, an assessment approach that focuses on pupils abilities in specific areas like awareness, curiosity and anticipation”. A guidance and training package will be developed and delivered to schools, local authorities, Ofsted and parents prior to programme roll out.

 

£10 MILLION PROGRAMME DELIVERING ROAD REPAIRS GETS £7M BOOST

Journeys on Oxfordshire’s roads have already been significantly improved in recent months thanks to an extra £10million being spent by OCC this year on repairing and improving road surfaces. Government announced in November that OCC would get £7.4 in additional funding to top-up this activity. A range of different methods of road repair and sealing are used to extend the life of county roads and reduce the likelihood of potholes forming which include resurfacing, patching, Dragon-patching and surface dressing.

 

OCC WELCOMES GOVERNMENT’S WASTE STRATEGY

OCC has welcomed the government’s new Waste and Resources Strategy for England, describing it as “ambitious”, with the potential to “transform the way that waste is viewed and managed.” Key points within the strategy include:

• Introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers to improve the amount recycled when out and about (known as ‘on the go’ recycling)
• Improved and extended redistribution of surplus food from businesses, and mandatory food waste collections from businesses and households.
• A national recycling target of 65 percent by 2035 (current national recycling rate is 45 percent)

OCC is committed to protecting the local environment as part of its Thriving Communities initiative.

 

OCC BEST PERFORMING COUNTY COUNCIL IN ENGLAND FOR ITS RECYCLING RATES

Oxfordshire has been named the best performing county council waste disposal authority in England for its recycling rates during 2017/18. The success reflects OCC’s commitment to work with districts to protect the environment. Figures published on Tuesday 11 December by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) show that Oxfordshire is the highest performing disposal authority, ahead of Buckinghamshire and Cambridgeshire.

Oxfordshire is ‘top of the pops’ in two categories:

• The highest proportion of waste which is reused, recycled and composted (57.2%)
• The lowest amount of general waste (non-recyclable waste) produced per household (430kg).

All Oxfordshire Councils recycled over 50% in 2017/18, (the national recycling rate is 45%). The county has seven Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs) that provide recycling facilities for a wide range of items, from batteries to clothes, fridges to plastic garden furniture, together with an incinerator complex at Ardley near Bicester. The HWRCs accept over 350 different waste streams, recycling around 60% of the waste accepted.

For further information about Oxfordshire County Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres, visit www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/waste

 

 

REACTION TO SODC’S LOCAL PLAN PROPOSALS

Just before Christmas SODC councillors voted by a large majority to put their re-worked Local Plan forward for government inspection. As a long-time resident of South Oxfordshire and your County Councillor for ten years, I can only watch from the side-lines. My personal view is one of huge disappointment and frustration. The plan proposes more houses than we need which will completely alter the local environment that residents love and want to protect. However, as a County Council Cabinet Member I am mindful of and accept the County’s vision for growth and economic development. Oxfordshire is already one of the best performing areas in the country offering the prospect of a thriving economy for its residents well into the future. With more jobs come more people, and people have to live somewhere. Working families need genuinely affordable housing, which appears to be an impossible goal in this area. The County Council has ambitious plans to improve our infrastructure which I welcome, but much of this can only be funded by accepting more housing. I just hope the Planning Inspector charged with examining SODC’s proposals is up to the job.

 

Below is a statement made by Bev Hindle, OCC’s Strategic Director for Infrastructure at the recent SODC meeting. It may explain OCC’s official position:

“I am here this evening to provide my support and encouragement for you to recommend this Local Plan is taken forward to examination.

This emerging Local Plan has been emerging for some time and it has seen many iterations and may yet see some further changes, but I wanted to take the opportunity to explain why now is the right time to proceed:

Throughout its evolution, SODC were challenged to develop a robust Local Plan – one that provided:

– a strong narrative – a story about what it was trying to achieve, one which put more effort into delivering Plan-led and infrastructure supported development;

– a more robust transport network and allocated development which could contribute positively to that network and to the local and county economy;

-greater consideration of the needs of the county, including Oxford – this means greater collaboration and compromise

-support for the County’s Housing and Growth Deal and also support for our Housing Infrastructure Bid which requires a robust and evidenced plan for growth to underpin the significant financial ask of Government

I believe SODC have risen to these challenges and have developed a Plan worthy of submission and testing in public.  As the responsible authority for highways, education and social care, we recognise this Local Plan attempts to help tackle not just the infrastructure deficit in terms of roads, but also helps to meet acute housing needs which have not been adequately met in the past.

We are particularly supportive of how the Plan looks to strengthen Science Vale and access to Didcot through strategic sites that can contribute to the local and national economy, meeting housing need, rebalancing demographic deficits and which in turn can contribute to the major infrastructure investment needed for this part of the county.  Without critical national funding to match this local ambition, the Plan will struggle to meet its vision and the county will suffer.  The Housing Infrastructure Fund bid for Didcot Garden Town for example is essential to holding this Plan together.  Our bid for funding will be robust and we are working on the principle we will get a funding decision in time to give critical support for the Plan – without this we will of course need to revisit our assumptions and assume SODC would need to re-visit its Plan.  

The County Council will be taking a very close look at the Plan over the coming weeks to ensure it is meeting the tests of soundness.  We will continue to work with the District to meet any challenges arising during examination.“

 

END.

Oxfordshire County Council Report January 2019 

 

FROM CLLR LORRAINE LINDSAY-GALE

OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL  |  WWW.NUNEHAMCOURTENAY.ORG.UK

 

OXFORD TO CAMBRIDGE EXPRESSWAY – UPDATE

Highways England recently held some local briefings for Councillors who represent areas that may be impacted by the proposed expressway. I attended the one held in Sandford-on-Thames on November 29^th. Their objective was to listen, and learn and much as they could about the local communities here and on the West side of Oxford. The best news for this Division is that Corridor B1 has been narrowed so that Shillingford, Warborough, Dorchester, Clifton Hampden, Burcot, Berinsfield, Newington, Drayton St Leonard and Stadhampton are no longer in the danger zone! While this is a huge relief for these villages, we still have to consider the impact the expressway may have on Chiselhampton, Culham, Nuneham Courtenay, Sandford, the Baldons and Garsington. I will continue to support The Expressway Action Group in their efforts to persuade Highways England that a far less costly and more environmentally acceptable route would be to the West of Oxford.

 

COUNCIL BUDGET

The council’s initial proposals for the 2019/2020 budget will be reviewed by the Performance Scrutiny Committee during December. A key element is the plan to invest up to £120m in roads and schools – a ‘growth dividend’ as more households mean more Council Tax revenue in future years. Tough decisions in the past have created a route to financial stability at a time when other councils face financial threats. There are new ‘Transformation’ plans being developed to completely redesign the council to reduce running costs. Making financial savings will enable OCC to support the growing number of vulnerable children and adults – more vulnerable children are coming into council care, both locally and nationally, creating financial pressures. Protecting children remains OCC’s top priority.

 

 

OCC CALLS FOR PUBLIC INQUIRY ON THAMES WATER’S RESERVOIR PLAN

Residents’ interests come first – that was the resolute message from OCC last month as its cabinet called for a public inquiry on Thames Water’s plans for a new reservoir. The council has concerns about the size and need for the proposed reservoir to the southwest of Abingdon, between Steventon, East Hanney and Marcham. It is also concerned about the length of time Thames Water has set itself to reduce leakages. Further clarity is sought from Thames Water on whether other potential sites have been fully assessed across the southeast region. Only when these details are provided in the form of a regional water resource plan for the south east, will the council be able to decide on whether to back the principle of having a reservoir at this location.

 

 

HOUSING AND GROWTH DEAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMME

The Oxfordshire Growth Board has published details of the infrastructure projects to receive funding in Year 1 and Years 2-5 of the Oxfordshire Housing & Growth Deal, signed in April 2018. The total £150 million of Growth Deal funding has been earmarked for specific projects. This forward funding is helping unlock projects that will benefit from developer contributions, delivering schemes valued at over £480 million in total, excluding costs of the major rail projects, which are still to be confirmed. There is no mention of the proposed new road from Didcot to the A415 at the Culham Science Centre, the new river crossing and the Clifton Hampden Bypass. This will depend on the outcome of the SODC Local Plan which will decide where the large ‘strategic housing sites’ will be located.

 

Most Locally the Schemes are:

_

Benson relief road

The relief road will provide traffic with an alternative route from the A4074 and B4009 to the north of the village, particularly for HGVs. There will also be capacity improvements at the A4074/Church Road junction and improved pedestrian and cycle facilities in and through Benson. The road will help unlock development sites to the north of the village along the new route, delivering around 600 new homes, with the Growth Deal forward funding enabling the work ahead of significant developer contributions.

District: South Oxfordshire

Estimated Growth Deal spend: £1,200,000

Full cost of scheme: £12,000,000

 

 _

Cowley Branch Line

Growth Deal funding will contribute to a feasibility and design study Network Rail is undertaking to enable the Cowley Branch through Oxford to be brought forward for passenger services. The scheme forms part of plans for other rail improvements countywide.

District: Countywide

Estimated Growth Deal spend: £250,000

Full cost of scheme: TBC

 

 _

Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme (OFAS)

The Growth Deal is contributing £5m of funding to the Environment Agency’s planned Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme, to help bring the scheme forward . The scheme should significantly reduce the risk of flooding to homes and businesses in Oxford City and neighbouring areas in the Vale of White Horse. It will also protect the public highway and other transport infrastructure including the Botley Road and Abingdon Road.

District: Countywide

Estimated Growth Deal spend: £5,000,000

Full cost of scheme: £TBC

 

 

_ 

Oxford Station Redevelopment

Growth Deal funding will support feasibility work on widening the Botley Road railway bridge, through replacement of the existing structure. This is required to support the Oxford rail station development, enabling more rail lines to be provided to increase capacity through Oxford. Widening the road underneath the bridge will improve headroom for vehicles and also provide more space for cycle lanes and wider pavements, complementing improvements along the length of Botley Road. The scheme is part of a wider improvement plan for Oxford station which includes additional track and platform capacity.

District: Countywide

Estimated Growth Deal spend: £500,000

Full cost of scheme: £TBC

 

 

_

Didcot Garden Town Project: Central Didcot Transport Corridor improvements

A priority “place-making” project involving a mixture of bus, cycle and pedestrian improvements from the new Science Bridge on the A4130 west of Sir Frank Williams Way to Jubilee Way Roundabout at Broadway. It is estimated that the project will contribute to the delivery of 391 houses as part of the programme of works.

Districts: South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse

Estimated Growth Deal spend: £2,000,000

Full cost of scheme: £60,000,000

 

 

_

Barns Road

The Barns Road scheme included in the South East Corridors Study is part of the Oxford Transport Strategy’s Cycle Premium Route network. It aims to support local growth and wider movement between new housing and employment sites in south Oxford (Cowley, Blackbird Leys, Littlemore, Oxford Science Park, Oxford Business Park) and connections to Oxford city centre, east and north Oxford. It envisages new and improved cycle routes along the whole length of the corridor, as well as improved bus provision. It is a key component of proposals to support social inclusion, equality of opportunity, protect/enhance the local environment and health/wellbeing, by improving connectivity and air quality through reducing congestion. It is estimated that the project will contribute to the delivery of 2081 houses.

District: Oxford City

Estimated Growth Deal spend: £1,300,000

Full cost of scheme: £10,300,000

 

 

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A34 Corridor

This project looks at providing a city-bound bus lane from the proposed P&R at Lodge Hill to Hinksey Hill Interchange. This forms part of proposals for rapid transit from major housing sites in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse to Oxford city centre and around the “Eastern Arc” (Littlemore, Cowley, Headington and North Oxford). Phase 1 of the project (bus priority at Hinksey Hill Interchange) has already secured funding with design work is now underway.

District: Oxford City

Estimated Growth Deal spend: (included in £1,300,000 listed above)

Full cost of scheme £25,100,000

 

 

 _

Eastern Bypass Corridor

The project will help move more people around more efficiently along the Eastern Bypass by providing a bus lane/priority along the corridor. This is required to support growth and wider movement between key housing and employment across south and east Oxford (Headington, Cowley, Oxford Business Park, Littlemore, Oxford Science Park) and South Oxfordshire/Vale of White Horse (South of Genoble Road/Chalgrove, Abingdon etc.). It is expected to reduce private car traffic and improve the city’s air quality.

District: Oxford City

Estimated Growth Deal spend: (included in £1,300,000 listed above)

Full cost of scheme: £38,100,000

 

 

_

Cowley Road/Garsington Road/Watlington Road corridor

The project will help reduce the impact of congestion and expand connectivity along the Cowley Road/Garsington Road corridor by improving traffic at existing pinch-points/junctions and new bus priority (improving bus journey times and reliability) and by providing a higher standard and safer cycle route along the whole length of the corridor. Side road entries and improved crossings will also assist pedestrian movement and safety. This will support housing growth along the Cowley Road/Garsington Road corridor and is part of proposals to improve wider movement between key housing and employment in south Oxford (Cowley, Oxford Business Park), South Oxfordshire (South of Genoble Road/Chalgrove) and Oxford city centre.

District: Oxford City

Estimated Growth Deal spend: (included in £1,300,000 listed above)

Full cost of scheme: £39,700,000

 

 

_

A4074 Corridor

The project will help reduce the impact of congestion along the A4074 corridor by providing a city-bound bus lane and bus priority at Heyford Hill roundabout, and by providing a new two-way cycle route. This corridor forms part of the Rapid Transit network to support growth and wider movement between key housing and employment across south and east Oxford (Littlemore, Oxford Science Park, Oxford Business Park, Headington) and South Oxfordshire (South of Genoble Road/Chalgrove) and connections to Oxford city centre.

District: Oxford City

Estimated Growth Deal spend: (included in £1,300,000 listed above)

Full cost of scheme: £18,800,000

 

 

_

B4495 Corridor

Starting at its junction with The Slade/Horspath Driftway to its junction with Abingdon Road, the aim of this project is to help reduce the impact of congestion along the B4495 corridor by addressing existing pinch-points and by providing a new and improved cycle route. As part of the Rapid Transit and connector bus network, and Oxford’s Cycle Super Route network it is expected to support growth and ease movement between key housing and employment across south and east Oxford (Cowley, Oxford Business Park, Headington) and South Oxfordshire/Vale of WH (South of Genoble Road/Chalgrove, Abingdon).

District: Oxford City

Estimated Growth Deal spend: (included in £1,300,000 listed above)

Full cost of scheme: £22,000,000

 

 

 _

Abingdon Road Corridor

The project will help reduce the impact of congestion and ease movement along the Abingdon corridor by providing a new and improved cycle route and improving bus routes to support housing and jobs growth and promote healthy and active travel. It connects people to major employment sites in South and East Oxford ((e.g. Headington, Cowley, Oxford Business Park) and South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse.

District: Oxford City

Estimated Growth Deal spend: (included in £1,300,000 listed above)

Full cost of scheme £13,700,000

 

 

 _

Iffley Road corridor

This is the A4158 corridor between the Eastern Bypass and The Plain roundabout to reduce the impact of congestion and move more people around more efficiently along Iffley Road by improving traffic at current bottlenecks, improving bus journey times/reliability, and by providing a higher standard and safer cycle route treatment along the whole length of the corridor. Side-road entry treatments and new/improved crossings will also assist pedestrian movement and safety. This will support housing growth along Iffley Road and is part of proposals to improve wider movement between key housing and employment in south Oxford (Littlemore, Oxford Science Park) and the city centre.

District: Oxford City

Estimated Growth Deal spend: (included in £1,300,000 listed above)

Full cost of scheme £19,700,000

 

 

HIGHWAYS DEFECTS UPDATE

As reported last month, the county council has increased the amount of relatively small-scale work it does to put right local roads that are suffering from potholes, cracks and worn out tarmac. The number of completed defect repairs between January and October this year is 37219.

 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

I would like to thank Parish Councillors for all their hard work over the last year and wish them together with everyone in my Division a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.