FROM CLLR LORRAINE LINDSAY-GALE
REPORT TO PARISH COUNCILS JULY 2019
PILOT PROJECT COULD RESTRICT TRAFFIC OUTSIDE OXFORDSHIRE SCHOOLS IN A BID TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION
The county council is considering the possibility of launching a ‘School Streets’ pilot project. The project aims to reclaim roads outside schools from traffic at the start and end of each day, reducing air pollution outside the school gates and making it easier for children to walk, cycle or scoot to school.
Two years ago, the east London borough of Hackney developed a blueprint for restricting traffic outside schools at opening and closing times. Seven schools are participating and since the launch of ‘School Streets’, the proportion of children cycling to school has increased by more than 50 per cent, with traffic outside the school gates reducing by around two-thirds.
Following a successful Oxfordshire Schools Clean Air Network seminar at County Hall on Clean Air Day, six Oxfordshire schools have already expressed interest in joining the pilot.
HELP AT HAND FOR RESIDENTS APPLYING TO THE EUROPEAN UNION SETTLEMENT SCHEME
Support is being offered to EU, EEA or Swiss citizens applying for settled or pre-settled status in the UK. Residents completing the ID verification process to the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) can get help at the Oxford Register Office and 16 libraries across the county.
Residents completing an online application are required to scan their identity documents using a compatible Android phone or tablet.
If their device doesn’t have near field communication (NFC), they can visit one of 16 libraries to make use of an Android device to complete the first part of the application process; scanning your documents. Once this is completed, they can complete the application on any device or computer. Residents requiring assistance to scan their documents can drop into the Oxford Register Office, where staff are providing support.
NHS ANNOUNCES OXFORDSHIRE WILL BE PART OF NEW JOINED-UP HEALTH AND CARE SYSTEM
Oxfordshire is to be part of a new ‘integrated care systems’ created by the NHS in England to improve health and social care services. The new joined up care system also covers Buckinghamshire and Berkshire West.
The NHS and local authorities in the three areas aim to deliver a person-centred vision for health and care services, making sure services are planned and delivered as locally as possible. Health and care organisations will work collectively to bring better health outcomes for people and ensure effort is not duplicated or resources wasted.
About integrated care systems
Local services can provide better and more joined-up care for patients when different organisations work together in this way. For staff, improved collaboration can help to make it easier to work with colleagues from other organisations. Integrated care systems can better understand data about local people’s health, allowing them to provide care that is tailored to individual needs.
By working alongside councils and drawing on the expertise of others such as local charities and community groups, the local authorities and the NHS can help people to live healthier lives for longer, and to stay out of hospital when they do not need to be there.
MOVING FORWARD WITH HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING BIDS
Oxfordshire County Council is now concluding contract negotiations in the next few months to formally secure infrastructure funding relating to four strategic transport projects in the Didcot Garden Town area. This relates to our successful Housing Infrastructure Funding (HIF) £218 million bid announced in the Spring Statement.
The county council is also working with Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and Highways England to complete the clarification stage of its £102m HIF bid projects associated with the A40 between Witney and Oxford, known as the A40 smart corridor. Consultants acting on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council have submitted a planning application for a proposed park and ride site, located on the A40 north-west of Eynsham and the first components of the scheme, which aims to:
- Support jobs and housing growth and economic vitality;
- Reduce transport emissions and meet our obligations to Government;
- Protect, and where possible enhance Oxfordshire’s environment and improve quality of life
- Improve public health, air quality, safety and individual wellbeing.
We are hopeful of hearing the outcome of the bid in the next few months. If we are successful in this second HIF bid, it will mean we’ll have secured £535 million of infrastructure funding for Oxfordshire since signing the Growth Deal in just over a year.
The Growth Deal is now in its second year of delivery and £30m of investment was achieved in the first year. Work is continuing to deliver infrastructure investment across over forty individual schemes in the County.
MAJOR PROGRESS ON IMPROVING OXFORDSHIRE’S ROADS
Repairs and improvements on Oxfordshire’s roads continue with more than 34,000 potholes repaired over the last year, a 45 per cent increase on the previous year – and there’s more major repairs to come over the summer.
The county council recently announced an extra £13m for road maintenance for this financial year on top of its existing £18.5m programme of work – this follows last year’s additional £12m boost. The strategy is paying off with 34,159 potholes repaired compared to 23,486 the year before.
This year’s additional money will be spent across Oxfordshire’s towns and villages on resurfacing, drainage, bridge repairs and footways.
Last year’s extra cash saw more than 37 extra miles of road being resurfaced through a range of methods which also included surface dressing and micro-asphalting – both of which make road surfaces waterproof and extend their life.
CELEBRATING A CARING OXFORDSHIRE COUPLE DURING SHARED LIVES WEEK
Oxfordshire couple Sue and Tim Clayton have been rewarded for 25 years’ dedication to the Shared Lives scheme when their long service was recognised at the Oxfordshire Association of Care Providers awards.
Shared Lives is funded by the county council and allows adults in need of practical and emotional support to live their lives more fully and independently and feel part of a family household.
Shared Lives Carers provide anything from occasional short breaks or daytime support through to a longer-term, full-time arrangement. There are currently 80 carers providing a home for about 120 adults in the county and the Shared Lives team is keen to recruit more as it celebrates Shared Lives Week. All carers receive ongoing support and training from social workers to ensure delivery of high-quality, person-centred care.
ROB MACDOUGALL APPOINTED NEW CHIEF FIRE OFFICER
Rob MacDougall has been appointed as Oxfordshire County Council’s new Director of Community Safety and Chief Fire Officer. Rob is currently Assistant Chief Fire Officer and will replace Simon Furlong, who is retiring from the post. “Taking on the role of Director of Community Safety and the Chief Fire Officer will be a huge privilege and a dream position for me,” said Rob. “I joined the Fire and Rescue Service in 1998, and apart from a short secondment with the Ghana National Fire Service, have enjoyed a wide and varied career here in Oxfordshire
ANSAF AZHAR NAMED AS COUNTY COUNCIL’S NEW DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Ansaf Azhar has been appointed as Oxfordshire County Council’s new Director of Public Health. Ansaf was the Interim Director of Public Health for Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council in the West Midlands and will take up his new post in August. “I am thrilled to join Oxfordshire County Council as the new Director of Public Health,” said Ansaf. “I started my career as a pharmacist and soon moved into Public Health as I am passionate about improving population health and reducing inequalities.
NEW ALCOHOL SERVICE GIVES MIDDLE-AGED DRINKERS SOMEWHERE TO TURN
Research has shown young people in Oxfordshire are drinking less but in contrast more people over 40 are turning to alcohol to ease the pressures of work and home life.
Now funding has been secured for the creation of a new standalone service provided by Turning Point, the community drug and alcohol service which provides comprehensive treatment and care for any adults in Oxfordshire experiencing problems with drugs and alcohol.
The new alcohol clinic will support those people who wouldn’t necessarily identify as being dependent on alcohol. This will include those who have been referred by GPs or the Alcohol Care Team at the John Radcliffe Hospital but can be used by anyone who feels they need support. Turning Point is commissioned by Oxfordshire County Council’s Public Health team and has treatment hubs in Oxford, Banbury, Didcot and Witney. The Public Health team seeks to promote, improve and protect the health of local people. It’s all part of the council’s commitment to thriving communities – we help people live safe, healthy lives and play an active part in their community. Turning Point can be contact on 0300 0134 776.