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Date |
News story |
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12/02/08 |
The County Council set its Revenue and Capital
Budget for 2008/09 and the Medium Term Financial Plan for 2008/09 to
2012/13. The County Council's share of the Council Tax bill will
increase by 3.875% - the third year in which we have been able to reduce the
rate of increase. |
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21/03/08 |
The Secretary of State for Health has upheld the
findings of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel and Rejected the
Oxford Radcliff NHS Trust's proposals for downgrading services at the Horton
Hospital in Banbury. Here is a link to the
Secretary of State's letter to Cllr Dr Peter Skolar, Chairman of the
Oxfordshire County Council Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee
which challenged the Trust's decision by referral to the Secretary of State.
Here is a link to the
Report of the
Independent Reconfiguration Panel. It is a lengthy document but it
is a good read and is critical both of the Oxford Radcliff NHS Trust and of
the Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust. [Click
the Back Button to return to this page] |
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22/03/08 |
Christopher
Rawlins (C of E) Primary School has been given a Good grade in its
recent Ofsted inspection. Here is a link to the full
Ofsted Report
which makes good reading. [Click
the Back Button to return to this page] |
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27/03/08 |
Bishop
Loveday (C of E) Primary School has been given a Satisfactory grade in its
recent Ofsted inspection. This is disappointing for a school which has
enjoyed a good reputation. The report refers to considerable staff
turnover including, of course, the long serving Headmistress. However,
it talks positively in terms of "arresting a recent decline in teaching
standards" and I am confident that the interim Headmaster has made great
strides towards improvement and I am confident that the new, permanent
Headmistress will continue this good work. Here is a link to the full
Ofsted Report. [Click
the Back Button to return to this page] |
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22/07/08 |
NHS
Hearing into "Rurality" of Bloxham Village. An NHS Panel was
convened today at the Banbury Moat House Hotel. I was there with with
several villagers to witness proceedings. Tony Baldry
MP appeared as a witness for Dr Martin Harris and gave very
compelling evidence about the rurality of the village. The Panel will
advise the NHS hierarchy and a final decision should be made within six
weeks. |
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27/08/08 |
NHS
classifies Bloxham as rural. Common sense has, thankfully,
prevailed with the NHS Litigation Authority in its determination of an
appeal from Dr Martin Harris of the Bloxham Surgery against a decision by
the Oxfordshire Primary Care trust to classify Bloxham as "Urban". Dr
Harris appealed because the new classification would have prevented him from
dispensing medicines to his patients who would have had to take their
prescriptions to Banbury to be dispensed. The Authority has announced
that the appeal has been successful and that Bloxham continues to be
rural. |
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31/07/08 |
Change
to speed limit on Aynho Road, Adderbury The County Council is
proposing slight changes to the speed limit on the Ayhno Road. A copy
of the Traffic Order is
attached.
[Click the Back Button to return to this page] |
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30/08/08 |
Rose
Bank, Bloxham will be closed for approx three days from 20 October to enable
power cable installation works. A copy of the Traffic Order and
related map is attached.
[Click the Back Button to return to this page] |
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03/10/08 |
Cherwell
District Council launches consultation on house building plans: The
council has published a consultation entitled Options for Growth
to set out proposals to meet the government's housing targets. These
require 4,900 houses at Bicester and 4,800 at Banbury. The
consultation closes on 24 November 2008. It is vitally important
that you express your views on the proposals. Here is a link to
the Cherwell web site which includes an e-response option:
www.cherwell.gov.uk/localdevelopmentframework
I am considering the proposals and
will be preparing my response as County Councillor for the Bloxham Division.
I need to stress that these are my personal views as the local member and do
not necessarily reflect the formal policies of the County Council. In
some respects, I know I will be "off-message" and I need to stress that my
commentary and my response to the consultation are as local member and not
necessarily those of the County Council. Here is a
link to my comments on the consultation.
[Click the Back Button to return to this page] |
