Author: Parish Clerk

West Oxfordshire District Council’s ‘Preferred Policy Options Paper’ consultation is now live

West Oxfordshire District Council has today launched a 6-week public consultation to help shape the development of the new West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2041.  The consultation runs from 26 June – 8 August 2025 and is focused on 3 particular elements:  A draft vision of West Oxfordshire in 2041: a vision of our ambitions for West Oxfordshire in 2041.    Revised objectives for the Local Plan: key priorities that we believe will help us make our vision a reality.    Preferred Policy Options: our preferred policy approaches have been defined in order to address social, environmental and economic challenges and opportunities facing the district. The policies are categorised under the following four themes: Core policies  Place based policies  Settlement strategies Development Management policies  This is not yet a draft Local Plan, and no new development sites are being proposed at this stage. Instead, we are asking for feedback on the proposed direction of the plan and the policy suggestions that will underpin the Draft Local Plan. A separate consultation focused on development site options will follow later in the year. Hard copies of the consultation material will be made available at Council Offices and all district libraries. To complement the digital consultation, we will also be running a number of ‘in-person’ consultation events, details of which will be published in due course. If you have any questions relating to the consultation, please contact the Planning Policy team on planning.consultation@westoxon.gov.uk

Click here to take part

Public drop-in events will also be held in towns and villages across the district, as well as online sessions, giving residents the chance to speak with planning officers, ask questions and share their views. Details of these events are as follows: 

Date	Venue	Time
Tuesday 1 July	Bampton Village Hall	4–8pm
Wednesday 2 July	Long Hanborough Pavilion	4–8pm
Monday 7 July	Chipping Norton, Glyme Hall	2–8pm
Tuesday 8 July	Carterton Town Hall	2–8pm
Monday 14 July	Burford, Warwick Hall (Old Hall)	4–8pm
Tuesday 15 July	Woodstock Community Hall	4–8pm
Wednesday 16 July	Eynsham Village Hall	4–8pm
Tuesday 22 July	Witney, Corn Exchange	2–8pm
Wednesday 23 July	Charlbury Community Centre	4–8pm

From OALC

Proposals for Governance in Oxfordshire

Our members will be very aware of the ongoing discussions over what local governance will look like in Oxfordshire in the coming years. The changes that are coming are necessary to meet the plans laid out in the UK Government’s White Paper on devolution released in December 2024.

What changes will we see?

The White Paper sets out the Government’s intention to create a number of Strategic Authorities across the country. These will sit above the current councils and either be designated as a Foundation Strategic Authority or Mayoral Strategic Authority. The latter will be led by an elected mayor.

In the areas – like Oxfordshire – where a two-tier system for principal authorities remains, this must be abolished for a single unitary authority. The two-tier system is when two different councils handle different services, as is the case in Oxfordshire (i.e. we have a District Council and a County Council, both handling different responsibilities.)

The various Councils that operate in Oxfordshire have been discussing options and are preparing proposals for what the single unitary authority could be and how areas/populations can be divided. Proposals must be submitted by November.  

What are the proposals?

There are currently three options being developed for local government in Oxfordshire. It is likely that all three proposals will be submitted to the Government, which will ultimately make the decision for our area.

Option 1: One authority

Oxfordshire County Council is proposing a single unitary authority for the county of Oxfordshire. More details about the rationale and potential benefits of this approach are available here: County council continues to endorse one council as best option for future local government in Oxfordshire

Option 2: Two authorities

Five councils in Oxfordshire and West Berkshire have collaborated on the proposal for two authorities. The proposal would divide the five existing councils into two new authorities: Oxford & Shires Council and Ridgeway Council.

Oxford & Shires Council would include Cherwell, Oxford City and West Oxfordshire. Ridegway Council would include South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Berkshire.

More details are available on this proposal on the website: Home – Two Councils

There is a public consultation open until 16 July on this proposal and a number of public engagement sessions are happening across the area. The details are available on the website. Once the consultation closes, a revised proposal will be produced.

Option 3: Three authorities

Oxford City Council is proposing three unitary authorities be created to cover Oxfordshire and West Berkshire:

Oxford Council – comprising Oxford on expanded boundaries

Northern Oxfordshire Council – comprising much of the existing West Oxfordshire and Cherwell districts

Ridgeway Council – comprising much of the existing South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts combined with the existing West Berkshire unitary

More information about the proposal and its potential benefits is available on this website: A greater Oxford | Oxford City Council

When will all this happen?

The proposals are currently being developed and will be submitted by 28 November 2025, with decisions expected to be made during 2026. Shadow councils will be established during 2027 to start the transition process, with the new councils being formally created (or vested) in 2028.

What should we do now?

Keep an eye out for updates from the various councils or on our website. The principal authorities are engaging with their communities and we’d encourage you to get involved, ask questions and find out more about what is planned and what it will mean.

At this stage, little has been said explicitly about the role of town and parish councils within these future governance structures but we will keep monitoring the situation.

Keep an eye on our website (www.oalc.org.uk) and follow us on Facebook @oxonalc for more news and further updates.

Out of the blue

In May 2023 The Abbeyfield Living Society (ALS), a registered charity, announced their intention to consult on the closure of 43 Supported Living Facilities for people across the UK. The consultation included The Old Bakehouse, Chadlington.

This type of facility is a home designed for people over 55 with a good level of independence, but with the reassurance of support and companionship if needed. Supported Living allows people their independence while reducing loneliness and associated poor health outcomes associated with solitary living in older age.

Residents at the Old Bakehouse are tenants of ALS with private living space and communal lounge, dining and laundry. The facility is an important community asset, providing supported living for up to 13 older people either from, or related to others in the local community. Over 115 older people have found their home at the Old Bakehouse in the last 40 years.

The Old Bakehouse was gifted to the Chipping Norton and District Abbeyfield Society in the early 1980s, and was transferred to the national Abbeyfield Society in 2003. The site is just under 1 acre of land and buildings.

ALS’ decision to consult on closure was based on estimated costs to ‘bring the building up to environmental standards and to meet modern standards and expectations’. Surveys were conducted by a leading national estate agent.

How we responded

A group of people local to Chadlington, The Friends of The Old Bakehouse (The Friends) entered into negotiations with ALS in July 2023 under a stringent Non-Disclosure Agreement. The Friends examined confidential figures supplied by Abbeyfield. The information provided, together with published accounts for similar sized independently owned homes, and discussion with their Trustees, demonstrate that a community based, not-for-profit organisation could successfully and sustainably manage the facility.

The Friends group included professionals in fundraising, business management, property management, marketing, health service management, training and leadership.

A ‘section 119 valuation’ (valuation under Charity Commission regulations regarding transfer of Charity
assets to a similar Charity) of £430,000 was provided to The Friends in December 2023.

The Friends aimed to acquire and continue to operate The Old Bakehouse as a Supported Living facility, without a break in service to the current tenants, and engaged in lengthy negotiations with ALS to achieve this.

Progress so far

The Friends established The Old Bakehouse, Chadlington. Registered in England and Wales Charity number 1211853, Company number 15469613 to finalise the acquisition and own the facility.

The Company will work towards Registered Provider of Social Housing (RP) status. In the interim a Service level agreement with an established third-party RP will ensure a high level of standards in all aspects and provide assurances to Abbeyfield and the Regulator of Social Housing in terms of governance, the offer to staff and the offer to residents.

Budgets based on current income and expenditure, and comparison with a range of similar facilities demonstrate the ability to fund ongoing repairs and maintenance following comprehensive initial refurbishments. The Friends have plans to increase capacity and revenue at the
facility

Fundraising targets

The Company have developed acquisition and business plans, with a total fundraising target of £912,555 to include:
◦ Acquisition of the site and business as a going concern – £430,000, plus legal fees
◦ 12 months cashflow reserves – £195,000 (to demonstrate our ability to fund the business)
◦ Contingency fund – £25,000
◦ Initial capital refurbishments – £247,555

Current fundraising achieved to date is £630,000.

For more information, including a range of sponsorship opportunities, how to make a donation, set up regular giving or find out about volunteer opportunities:
Email: admin@theoldbakehousechadlington.co.uk
Mobile: 07919 905 753

The Old Bakehouse Chadlington
Registered in England and Wales
Charity number 121185
Company number 15469613

On Wednesday the 30th of April, the Chipping Norton Neighbourhood Team will be holding a have your say event at the Charlbury Community Centre from 10am -2pm

We will have;

“No cold calling” stickers for front doors.

Information on the best way to deal with scammers on the phone.

The little book of BIG scams. A very useful little book, packed with good advice on how to spot scams.

Information on call blockers if you are receiving a lot of scam calls.

A list of reputable trades people and advice on what the correct process is, if you are planning on any home improvements or general property maintenance.  

We will have a limited supply of Faraday pouches (A Faraday pouch is a pouch lined with a conductive material, like metal mesh, that blocks electromagnetic signals, including radio waves. This shielding effect prevents signals from being transmitted in or out of the pouch, effectively isolating electronic devices inside. This is useful for protecting car keys from relay attacks or blocking phone signals. )

And lots more crime prevention advice.

April 26^th at 3pm at the Playground,

followed by a discussion of the next phase at the Tite Inn.

(under the covered outside space) 

To mark the completion of phase two of the playground refurbishment project.  The Parish Council invites all residence of Chadlington to join us to view the new equipment and discuss plans for the next phase of the project.

Over the last two years the Parish Council has completed:

Phase 1 (completed April 2023)

·      Toddler area: Installed a new toddler multi-play structure to replace the old unit that was no longer in a fit condition. 

·      Agility trail: Remove the old agility trail and replaced with a new trail with metal feet to avoid the wood rot problems that shortened the life of the previous equipment.

Phase 2 (completed February 2025)

·      Toddler area: Replace the current stationary vehicles and springer with 3 static vehicles (one with a small tunnel), a single user springer and a double user springer.  A new roundabout has also been fitted to replace the broken equipment.

·      Agility trail: Added two additional (challenging) pieces to the agility trail.

This work has been funded by many generous donations from our community and Parish Council funds. We thank all those who have helped maintain the playground through the work parties to spread bark chippings, volunteered to help maintain equipment, and made donations to support the refurbishment program.

Please join us on April 26^th at 3pm to celebrate our great playground.

Andrew Hutchings

Chair of Chadlington Parish Council

Please join us at 2:30pm on Saturday April 5th in the Chadlington Memorial Hall for our Annual Parish Meeting.

The Annual Parish Meeting as an opportunity to bring together the institutions, clubs, groups, and businesses of Chadlington.  The goal is to create a forum for information sharing and dialogue cross the whole community. The meeting will last 3 hours and combine 1 hour of presentations and questions bookended by table exhibitions by participating clubs/groups/businesses.

We will be joined by Liz Leffman (Leader of the Oxfordshire County Council) and Nigel Ridpath our District Councillor. We will also be joined by local groups and businesses.

This is a great opportunity to see what is going on across the whole community of Chadlington and interact with your council representatives from across Oxfordshire.

Andrew Hutchings

Chair of Chadlington Parish Council

andrew.hutchings@chadlingtonparishcouncil.gov.uk