Extra garden waste

As autumn gets underway, many of us are taking the opportunity to collect up the leaves and give our gardens a prune before winter sets in. There’s good news if you subscribe to our brown bin service - you can put an extra garden waste out on your normal garden waste collection day between 30 October and 10 November. You can leave out up to four standard sized (60L) sacks worth per brown bin subscription, or in boxes /containers equivalent to a binful. But please, no rubble or builders’ waste bags!

More information can be found on the South Oxfordshire garden waste page.

Grants available now to help look after local green spaces

If you know a local volunteer group or organisation helping nature, they could be eligible for funding from us. We’ve teamed up with Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE) to help communities protect and enhance their local green spaces and improve access for residents to benefit from being in nature. The next deadline is midday 8 January 2024. If you’ve got an idea and want to give your project a boost, we recommend you have a quick chat with TOE before applying. Contact Rachel on admin@trustforoxfordshire.org.uk.

Help to cut Halloween waste

Did you know, around 22 million pumpkins go to waste each year - that’s around £32 million worth of edible food!

Once Halloween is over, to save money and reduce food waste, why not cook and eat your pumpkin. There are links to lots recipe ideas on our Halloween waste webpage - along with advice on what to do with used Halloween costumes and decorations.

If cooking isn’t an option, then simply cut your pumpkin up and put it in your food waste bin, or you can put it out whole next to your food bin on your next food waste collection day– just remember to remove any candles or decorations first. Or you can put it in your compost bin instead if you have one.

Free carbon emissions calculator tool

The council’s Climate and Biodiversity Team has a free simple-to-use carbon emissions calculator tool for town and parish councils to measure their current carbon emissions using energy and fuel bills. It makes it easy to work out where carbon and cost savings can be made.

For more information email climateaction@southandvale.gov.uk.

Online forum on supporting home energy efficiency upgrades

The council's Climate and Biodiversity team is hosting a free online forum to help town and parish councils and community groups support residents to reduce their energy use and costs. This takes place on Tuesday 14 November at 6-7.15pm. The speakers will talk about the support that is available and some inspiring examples of local projects to help residents. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.

Please share information on this event with your local parish council and community groups. To register for the event, people should email climateaction@southandvale.gov.uk.

Thermal Imaging Camera available to loan

As the weather gets colder, we will be lending out our thermal imaging camera again to community groups and parishes. They can use the camera to identify spots in buildings where heat is escaping and where energy-saving measures could help make a place more comfortable and reduce fuel bills at the same time.

The Climate and Biodiversity team is also hosting a training session on Thursday 2 November at Abbey House on how to use the camera and interpret images. For more information, people should email climateaction@southandvale.gov.uk.

Forum to discuss a new ways of working between councils

Town and Parish council clerks and representatives are invited to a forum to discuss the development of a new Charter to set out the commitments to support successful partnership working between district city, county and town and parish councils.

The Oxfordshire Association of Local Councils (OALC), Oxfordshire County Council and the district and city councils are holding a roundtable discussion on Thursday 26 October from 6.30pm – 8.30pm where they want to hear the views of town and parish councils on future ways of working together. The event will be held in person at County Hall with an online option also available. For those attending in person, there will be an opportunity for networking with refreshments before the event 6pm - 6.30pm.

There will be an online survey sent via email to all town and parish councils afterwards so all councils the opportunity to feed into this work.

If you would like to attend in-person, please register here.

If you would like to attend online, please register here.

If you have any questions, please contact Tannah Collier at policyteam@oxfordshire.gov.uk.

South Oxfordshire Councillor Community Grant Scheme 2023/24 – Closes Soon

Each South Oxfordshire district councillor has £5,000 to award to projects or services that offer community benefits in their ward area. We are keen to fund proposals that support the council’s Corporate Plan in particular:

to protect and restore our natural world

action on the climate emergency

improved economic and community well-being

The funding is ideal for projects which are relatively low in costs and are expected to be completed within a year. The minimum you can apply for is £250 up to £5,000.

Before you apply, please speak to your local ward member to discuss your project and gain their support. For more information and to submit your online application please visit the community grants page on our website.

Reminder: All South Town and Parish Councils can apply, and the scheme closes Midday Friday 20 October 2023.

Other News

Come together to champion #WorldMentalHealthDay at Cornerstone Arts Centre

To show Cornerstone Art Centre’s support for World Mental Health Day they’re offering 10 per cent off the award-winning musical show We Are What We Overcome on Thursday 16 November. The show follows one man’s journey with his mental health. To get the discount simply use code ‘MHOffer10’ at checkout online or in-person.

Gas pipe replacement work in Didcot

For anyone who lives or travel through Didcot, be aware SGN is starting work on a network enhancement project in Broadway, Didcot this week. The work involves replacing the existing metal gas pipelines with new PE plastic pipes.

The work was due to start this week and will run for approximately six weeks beginning at Earnest Road, Broadway, at the junction with Park Road. There will be multi-way traffic lights at the Broadway roundabout, affecting traffic on Broadway, Foxhall Road, Park Road, and Wantage Road. After roughly four weeks of work, it will gradually progress along Broadway toward Bridwell Road. The work will likely have an impact on traffic, so leave plenty of time before you travel. The bus stop near the fire station will also be affected.

This month

Fun half-term holiday activities on offer

Recycle week 2023