News

A big THANK YOU to Anthony Flack

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Anthony Flack has reluctantly decided to stand down as Chair of the Stratton Audley CLP- Social Fund Raising Committee. He has held this position for the past five years and has made an enormous contribution to the fund raising efforts of the village. He has worked tirelessly and used his considerable experience to develop and help run many events, all for the benefit of residents of the village, the church and charities who received funding.

Happily he will remain as deputy chairman of the Parish Council and will therefore continue to play a role in the background.

Live Vintage Entertainment Saturday 11th November – CANCELLED

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Live Vintage Entertainment for Remembrance Day, Saturday 11th November, 7pm, Stratton Audley Church – CANCELLED

This event has been cancelled due to  lack of ticket sales. Apologies to those that had booked and paid for tickets. All monies will be returned. Get your tickets in advance for this live musical extravaganza being organised by St Mary & St Edburga Church. Professional stars of the stage, Mandy & Des Frater will get everyone dancing and singing along to classic war-time songs, swing, smooth jazz and nostalgic dance hits from the 1940’s. Period dress optional.

Tickets are £15 to include supper. Drinks will be available from the bar.

To book call Becky on 01869 277471   or   email beckyandjeremy@aol.com

In aid of St Mary and St Edburga, Stratton Audley and Holy Trinity, Godington.

THIS EVENT IS BEING KINDLY SPONSORED BY AUDLEY HAT HIRE

To see more about Mandy & Des Frater visit their website:  www.cloud9musica.co.uk

Gore Blimey! Mike cuts a dashing figure.

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A timely reminder, as the grass cutting season comes to an end, to reflect on how well the village grass verges are kept in check. Whilst a few people traditionally chose to cut the grass verge outside their own house, the vast majority are mown and trimmed by local resident Mike Gore on behalf of the Parish Council.

He cuts a mean figure and regularly receives compliments in particular for the frequent strimming that he carries out, which makes all the difference.

Well done Mike for a job well done!

     

   

RECENT POWER CUTS – SCOTTISH & SOUTHERN

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Below is  email correspondence with Scottish & Southern regarding recent power cuts in the village

Dear Mr Honsinger

Thank you for your patience whilst waiting for a reply to the question which you have asked regarding recent power supply issues.

I have now been provided with information which will hopefully allow me to answer your concerns.

It has been confirmed that the works done previously to install a strengthening loop in to the local network has had no relevance to the recent interruptions which have been experienced. The loop was installed on a different section of the network to where the most recent faults have been occurring.

The reason for the recent interruptions has been identified as a result of trees/branches that have been coming in to contact with our lines on the main network. At this time our Network Upgrade and tree cutting teams have no planned scheduled in place for the correction and maintenance of these areas which have been identified. This is something that the senior management will be addressing and we will be arranging for corrective works to be actioned at the earliest opportunity.

I would like to take the opportunity again to apologise to yourself and all the residents of Stratton Audley for the disruption which has been experienced. Please rest assured that we are committed to ensure we are offering as reliable a supply as possible.

If you have any further questions or queries that I may be able to help with then you can contact us on 0800 980 1395 or by replying to this email. I will monitor our systems to check for a response and if I do not hear from you within 28 days, I will assume the matter has already been resolved.

If you would like to view our complaint handling procedure please click on the link below.

Kind regards

Andy Boardman

Customer Relations

T: +44(0)800 980 1395

Internal: 34240

E:Andrew.boardman@sse.com

Walton Park, Walton Road, Cosham, PO6 1UJ

www.ssen.co.uk

If you would like to know more about our complaints handling
procedure, please click here

Dear Andy

Thank you for your email below and explanation therein but I think you are referencing the wrong incident as the power cut to which I was referring happened at 10.50pm in the evening and not during the afternoon.

However, regardless of this point of detail, I would like you to still address the wider issue of the frequency of minor power cuts (another one occurred sometime during last night, Friday 25th and I know this because a  number of appliances in our house had to be reset again today.

Without wishing to repeat myself could you please answer the question in the second paragraph of my previous email as to whether a new loop was installed over the five day period when most of Stratton Audley was cut off from the grid and whether the new additional link is going to mean less power cuts this winter because on the evidence thus far I am concerned?

I hope you don’t think it unreasonable to seek fuller clarification since I am being asked this question frequently.

 

Many thanks

John Honsinger

From: Boardman, Andrew [mailto:andrew.boardman@sse.com] On Behalf Of CustomerComplaints
Sent: 25 August 2017 11:53
To: ‘john Honsinger’ <jhonsinger@btconnect.com>
Cc: ‘Cllr Ian Corkin’ <Ian.Corkin@Oxfordshire.gov.uk>; Barry Wood <cllr.barry.wood@cherwell-dc.gov.uk>; Anne Davies <strattonaudley.parishclerk@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: Scottish & Southern Electricity Power Cuts

Dear Mr Honsinger

I am writing further to my previous email advising I was investigating the interruption which had been experienced.

It has been confirmed to me that our engineers were called to attend the local area following reports received of customers without power. On arrival it was found that a cable on our main overhead network had brought a wire down. Repairs were completed at the time in order for power supplies to be restored. During the follow up for this, a section of line was identified as requiring attention where trees were in close proximity to our cables. It was felt that supplies needed to be isolated that afternoon to allow safe removal of branches to prevent further unplanned interruptions from occurring.

Contrary to popular belief, it remains the responsibility of any landowner to ensure that trees growing on their property are kept away from the overhead network which we operate. We only become involved when it is too late for preventative cutting to be completed without endangering those completing the works.

I hope that the above answers some of the questions which are being asked. If you need any further information then please do not hesitate to contact us again.

If you would like to view our complaint handling procedure please click on the link below.

Kind regards

FERRET FRENZY ON FRIDAY NIGHT A GREAT SUCCESS

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Nearly 200 people attended the first Ferret racing evening in Stratton Audley on Friday 1st September organised by the CLP group and supported by the Parish Council.

The event was a sell-out and with the weather holding fair, a maximum crowd attended this pre-sold ticketed event. The Feisty Ferret Bar was the first port of call and the raffle added to the fun and excitement. The races got underway at 7pm and all joined in with brisk betting on the Tote. Soon after, hot delicious Fish & Chips (included in the entry price) arrived supplied by Barberry’s in Bure Park, Bicester.  As the evening progressed the lights came on and the atmosphere built. Between races children and adults got up close to hold these cute little animals who seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as everyone else.

We were delighted to have Kerry O’Leary, our new Neighbourhood Sergeant for Bicester Town and Bicester Rural attend with her colleague to mingle with people from the community and we were also pleased to welcome many from other local villages as well from Bicester, Brackley, and Buckingham. Thanks go to all the sponsors, the Howsons for the use of their field and everyone who helped make this event the great success it was including Ferrets 2000, the professional Ferret display team.

Some £2000 was raised to go towards buying a mobile Speed Awareness Sign for the village, the Parish Church Tower Fund and the Big Red pre-school playbus that visits the village.

See more below and check out our facebook page on a regular basis

http://facebookstrattonaudleyparishcouncil

https://www.facebook.com/lise.honsinger/videos/10102226202888729/

and view the photos below

 

 

WANTED – NEW COUNCILLOR

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PARISH COUNCIL OF STRATTON AUDLEY

There is a vacancy on the above Council caused by the resignation of Councillor Cathryn Lloyd.

We have now received confirmation from Cherwell District Council that we may fill the vacancy by co-option. Expressions of interest should be put in writing to the Parish Clerk

Interested parties should send a letter or email detailing their interest and experience to strattonaudley.parishclerk@gmail.com

 Signed Anne Davies

Clerk, 6 Greystones Court, Kidlington Oxon, OX51AR

OXFORDSHIRE HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST RIDE AND STRIDE

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September 9th

This year’s Ride and Stride will be on September 9th .   This is an ideal opportunity for people who are cyclists and horse riders, etc, to visit Churches in the region which will all be open on the day in order to raise monies for OHCT.   Anyone in this parish who is interested in enjoying this challenge and who would be prepared to raise funds for this worthy cause through sponsorship can obtain an entry form from Roni Howarth at 12 Cavendish Place or on 01869 277694.   The OHCT have frequently provided financial support for maintenance and rebuilding projects in Stratton Church.

In order to welcome visiting riders and walkers to the Church we would be grateful for people to volunteer to sit in the Church for 1-hour periods, between 10am and 6pm in order to authorise visitor’s sponsorship forms and to offer refreshments.   Anyone able to help should contact Roni as shown above.

Defibrillator & First Aid awareness sessions in the Church

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Cllr Stewart Hopkins has completed a First Aid training course and is now a qualified and insured First Aider, able to provide refresher First Aid awareness to interested residents on an annual basis and saving the cost of employing an outside trainer.   Some 12 people have previously undertaken some basic instruction.   Last year the Parish Council invested in a potentially life-saving defibrillator which is located in the church porch and permanently accessible in the event of an emergency.   If you would like to learn how to use it, Stewart is planning a couple of two hour sessions in the next month – provisionally Thurs evening 14th Sept and Sat morning 16th Sept.   Please contact him on stewarthopkins1812@btinternet.com

Sweeping Success in Village

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Another sweeping success  in the village was undertaken by Cherwell District Council on Wednesday 22nd August. Thanks to our coordinated efforts,  more or less everyone managed to move their cars off the streets, so as to give Harry in his sweeper lorry an easy ride.

Thanks to everyone. The next sweep will be the big one in late November after the majority of the leaves have fallen.

    

Approval to increase Councillors from 5 to 7

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NOTICE ISSUED BY CHERWELL DISTRICT COUNCIL 31 July 2017

Cherwell District Council Community Governance Review 2017 re possible change in the number of Parish Councillors in some parishes

Cherwell District Council is carrying out a Community Governance Review. This is the process that allows the Council to make changes to parishes, such as parish boundaries and numbers of parish councillors.

Five parish councils contacted Cherwell District Council, to ask for a review of their number of parish councillors. A working group of district councillors considered the requests, and made recommendations to full Council on 17 July 2017.

Councillors agreed all of the recommendations and this is your opportunity to comment on the proposed change for Stratton Audley.

Stratton Audley Parish Council contacted Cherwell District Council in 2016 and requested that consideration be given to increasing the number of councillors for the parish from five to seven.

The reason for the request is the opportunity to attract a broader cross section of the community, reduce the amount of work each councillor undertakes by spreading the load and the fact that a larger council would also provide resilience in the event of holidays or sickness.

The last parish election for Stratton Audley was held in 2014, and there were five candidates for the five seats.

The electorate for Stratton Audley on 1 December 2016 was 349. Guidance from NALC recommends a parish council of seven where the electorate is up to 900.

On this basis, the recommendation is that the number of parish councillors be increased by two, so there would be seven parish councillors from the next scheduled election in Stratton Audley in 2018.

What happens next?

People now have the opportunity to tell the Council what they think of these recommendations.

You can send an email to democracy@Cherwellandsouthnorthants.gov.uk, or visit our webpage www.cherwell.gov.uk/communitygovernance and click on the survey monkey link to reply electronically.

All written or emailed responses should reach us by Friday 8 September 2017 to be taken into consideration. The online survey will close at 11:59pm on the same date.

Responses received will be considered by the working group of District Councillors, who will make a final set of recommendations that will be considered at the meeting of Full Council on Monday 16 October 2017.