Number 17 Bus Service during the road closure (from 28 March)

We have now had confirmation that the bus service will continue during the closure of Bicester Road (from 28 March).

The buses will enter Launton via Blackthorn Road, then turn right into Station Road, setting down opposite the bus shelter, then stopping and turning round at the bus stop in Blenheim Drive (as the S5 used to do). The bus will then stop at the bus shelter and exit Launton via Blackthorn Road.

So, at the moment only these two stops will be served, but there may be the possibility of adding a temporary stop on Blackthorn Road.

This is the revised time table

Council Tax and Parish Council Precept 2022/23

The Parish Council considered the detailed budget and the Precept request (the amount the Parish Council requires for meeting the expenses of running the Council) for the year 2022 / 23 at the meeting on 6 January.

The budget of £36,621 was agreed – (a decrease from £45,520). This took into account the range of Parish responsibilities including village grass cutting and weed spraying, the dog bin emptying, meeting costs, saving for replacement street furniture, road safety, reserves and the Parish Hall project.

The Parish had been given the Tax Base figure (broadly, the number of Band D equivalent dwellings in the village) by CDC which was estimated at 566.4; this was an increase from 536.3 the previous year. Following the calculations, it was agreed to increase the Precept to £29,895 which was an increase of £6,899. The annual cost to a Band D household would be approximately £52.98 – an increase of £9.90 over the whole year.

However, it is worth noting that the Band D equivalent for a resident of Bicester for 21/22 was £131.94.

More information about how the Tax Base figure is calculated is available on the Parish Council website at Financing the Parish Council

For anyone interested, the draft budget and precept calculations can be found on the Parish Council website under the January Items for Information at https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/agenda-and-minutes/2021-2022-agenda-and-minutes/

Launton Spring Litter Pick – 19 March

Save the date!

Volunteers of all ages needed!

Come and join us on Saturday 19 March to help get the village clean and tidy for the summer.

We’ll meet at the Parish Hall from 10am and will have litter pickers, hi-vis vests, gloves and bags available.

The marvellous WI’s refreshments will be available to all who return their equipment to the hall!

Launton Village Clean Up – Saturday 19 March 22

Happy Christmas from the Parish Council

The Parish Council would like to wish everyone a peaceful Christmas and a happy new year.

The Clerk will try to monitor correspondence, but will also be taking a bit of a break after another extremely busy year.

We’ll look forward to welcoming villagers to the next Parish Council meeting on 6 January (restrictions-willing).

A plea for kindness and thought

The Parish Council and the Launton Facebook pages may look like ‘faceless bureaucracies’ but behind these social media pages are people who have to filter out the, sometimes unpleasant or even aggressive, comments.

We use social media as a virtual noticeboard to keep the local community informed. However, if we continue to receive unpleasant remarks, we will consider disabling comments – please don’t ‘shoot the messenger’ – we’re only passing information on!

We do ask that, before you respond to a post, you think about who might be receiving the comments and how you would feel if you or a member of your family received them.

The Clerk also requests that villagers do not use her personal Facebook profile to contact her via Messenger. She is not employed 24/7, and deserves her time off too, so if you need to contact her, please use the Parish Council email address clerk@launton-pc.gov.uk.

Please be kind and respectful.

August Parish Council Meeting

Launton Parish Council Meeting

The August Parish Council meeting will be on Thursday 5 August in the Parish Hall at 7.30pm.

The Agenda and meeting papers together with the draft Minutes from May’s meeting and the notes from the June and July informal meetings are available on the website in the Agenda and Minutes section.

Due to the current infection rates and to protect everyone as much as possible, there will be special arrangements for everyone attending:
•   all attendees to take a lateral flow test prior to the meeting if at all possible;
•   all attendees should enter through the main doors and use the hand sanitiser;
•   windows will be kept open;
•   the tables for Councillors will be well spaced with no sharing;
•   a table near the main doors will be available to collect meeting papers on entry;
•   the public chairs will be spaced out nearest the main door;
•   all attendees are requested to wear masks into the building and only take them off once seated or speaking.

Informal public participation will be held from 7.15pm but this will be outside the Hall on the grass. All planning applications are now only provided by CDC electronically but, it is hoped it will be possible to display the documents via a data projector at the meeting.

If you would like meeting papers, please let the Clerk know so that she can ensure there are enough copies (no sharing between households at the moment!).

Please let your neighbours know that they can receive this agenda notice by email by signing up on the website in the bottom left menu at https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/

We’ll look forward to ‘seeing’ you on Thursday.

Parish Transport Representative needed!

Do you use the bus service from Launton?

The village has had a Parish Transport Representative for a number of years, but they are unable to continue the role.

The County Council runs Parish Transport Representative meetings a couple of times a year which involve as many of the Oxfordshire villages as possible.

So, if you use the bus and would like to help shape the future of the provision – please get in touch with clerk@launton-pc.gov.uk.

Consultation on allotment access

The County Council has just launched a consultation on the allotment access created by EWR off the Bicester Road.

This is the official Public Notice together with the County’s Statement of Reasons

The detailed plan is available together with the wider picture plan.

The Consultation is available on the County Council website at https://consultations.oxfordshire.gov.uk/BicesterRdNRT/consultationHome

and will close on 18 June.

May Meeting

Due to the loss of the ability for Parish Councils to meet virtually after 6 May, the Parish Council will be holding the May meeting, to formally constitute the new Council, on Thursday 20 May at 7.30pm on the grass OUTSIDE the Parish Hall.

It will only be a short meeting with essential business including the election of the Chairman and the co-option of one Councillor . If you are interested in putting yourself forward for co-option, see our ‘Becoming a Councillor‘ page, complete the form and send it me.

We will not hold the usual open discussion from 7pm that evening.

New Councillors

The Statement of Persons Nominated has just been published by the Elections Team at Cherwell District Council.

Statement of Persons Nominated April 21

Six people have been nominated to stand as Parish Councillors and so there will not be an election on 6 May.

As there are seven seats, the Council will be looking to co-opt one more member; so if you didn’t get around to completing a nomination form but are still interested in joining us, you can! Please get in touch.

On 10 May, the old Councillors will stand down and the new Councillors will come into office.

As Clerk, I should like to thank all the Councillors who are standing down for all the work and service they have given over the years. I look forward to working with a new team from May.