Breaking News from Fringford Parish Council
CANCELLED- Project for Improvements to the Village Green
Dear Villagers
The Parish Council received some very disappointing news on the afternoon of Monday 26th September 2022, that the landowner of the Village Green (The Shelswell Estate) had withdrawn their permission for the HS2 Improvement Grant Project for the Village Green to go ahead on Monday 3 October.
At that very late stage in the proceedings, representatives of the Shelswell Estate requested the project was put on hold, without providing a written reason. However, a representative from the Shelswell Estate verbally indicated that permission to proceed with the Village Green project had been withdrawn in order to persuade the Parish Council to take on a lease for the management and maintenance of The Spinney (the woodland near the Church).
At their meeting on 26 September 2022, the Parish Council determined that it could not agree to taking on a lease on the Spinney as there was insufficient time to investigate the implications and/or possible liability of leasing this land (since the Parish council has no experience of leasing woodland). The Parish Council were also unconvinced of a valid reason for stipulating that a lease on the Spinney was necessary to obtain permission for the Village Green project.
This is a huge disappointment for the village as the project had many benefits. Several members of the Parish Council and Oxfordshire County Council had worked incredibly hard to pull the project together and secure the grant funding, engaging with the Shelswell Estate representatives from the start. The Parish Council will consider the implications on the project to improve the old pond area at its next meeting on Monday 17 October.
Fringford Parish Council
Fringford Parish Council
The Parish Council has seven Councillors and meets on the third Monday of every month to discuss issues relating to the maintenance of village facilities, the welfare of its inhabitants and planning applications. Villagers are welcome to attend these meetings.
As part of the Localism Act 2011. the Councillors all have to sign Register of Members’ Interests Forms which are held by Cherwell District Council and can be viewed here.
The Parish Council exists solely to represent the interests of the whole Fringford community. The current Council is non-party political and is made up of Parish Councillors who are local residents.
Parish Councillors serve a four year term, with the next election due in the spring of 2022. People on the electoral role can be co-opted on to the Parish Council if a vacancy occurs during the four-year term or if there are not sufficient candidates at an election for all the seats to be filled.
The Parish Council’s main roles are to ensure that the delivery of services to meet local needs is maintained (and ideally enhanced) and that the quality of life in the community and the environment of the Parish are improved. The Council performs a range of tasks including the upkeep of the Village Green and playground, paying for the emptying of the dog bins and maintaining the village pump; to carry these, out the Parish Council requires a small annual income and this is obtainable through an annual levy on each household known as the ‘Precept’.
Listening to everyone’s concerns, needs and aspirations within and beyond the Parish, goes to the heart of the Parish Council’s work. The Parish Council, therefore, very much welcomes questions, opinions or concerns from parishioners and values their presence at its monthly Parish Council meetings.
The Parish Council is a member of the Oxfordshire Association of Local Councils (OALC) which provides support and training for the Parish Councillors and Clerk and access to support from the National Association of Local Councils (NALC). The Parish Clerk is also a member of the Society of Local Council Clerks.
If you would like to go on the Parish Council mailing list please follow this link.
If you would like to contact any of the Parish Councillors please contact the Clerk who will forward messages on to the appropriate Councillor.
Any enquiries contact the Parish Council Clerk:
Bobs Damerell 01844 237766 [email protected]