Hello from Hayleigh and Debra
As we head into spring, it’s lovely to see the daffodils sprouting up across the ward.
During February, Vale of White Horse District Council held a full council meeting where the annual budget was set for the 2024/2025 financial year. Despite the major challenges all councils continue to face, including government funding increases not keeping pace with inflation, council tax limited to a below inflation increase, the continued rise in the cost of living and ongoing economic and political uncertainty, the budget does not propose any reductions to district council services and continues to invest in key areas.
Both councils’ have launched the Playing Pitch and Leisure Facilities Consultations which will decide what sport facilities are needed in the Vale and South Oxfordshire. The consultation is open until the 17th April on our Join the Conversation Page on the Vale website so do have your say. Sports clubs and organisations across the Vale will also be consulted.
On 1st March, the Cabinet member for affordable housing, infrastructure, development and governance at the Vale, Cllr Sue Caul, approved the use of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds (20% of which is ring fenced for public healthcare) to support the Great Western Park Health centre project. CIL is money collected from developers. It can be spent on any number of local projects and this 20% pot of money is allocated generically for healthcare. This is in addition to the S106 money ring fenced specifically for the GWP health centre.
Council News
Retrofitting measures: A large portion of greenhouse gas emissions come from people’s homes. The councils have set up new webpages to help residents who want to retrofit energy-saving measures to their properties but are unsure if they need planning permission. This specially created online guide offers information whether people want to add simple insulation, solar panels, air source heat pumps or cladding to their properties. They can be found at www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/retrofitting-rules
Council Tax: For 2024-25, council tax for services provided by Vale of White Horse District Council has been set at £156.69 for a Band D property for the entire year. Vale residents will therefore continue to pay one of the lowest rates in the country for services provided by a shire district and significantly less than the equivalent fee paid by those living in Oxford. The district council’s services are funded, in part, by only a small portion (7 per cent) of the total council tax paid by Vale households.
Changes to garden waste services: South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have set out plans to change the way their garden waste service is paid for in 2025. The councils’ have agreed a permit scheme from April 2025 which will include subscribers receiving a sticker for their bins to identify them as fully paid-up.
We use these monthly updates to keep you updated on our activities and general council news. We also post on our councillor Facebook Pages:
www.facebook.com/CllrHayleigh & www.facebook.com/Debra4BlewburyAndHarwell
Please get in touch with any issues or concerns, either via email:
hayleigh.gascoigne@whitehorsedc.gov.uk and debra.dewhurst@whitehorsedc.gov.uk.
