Author: Sonja Francis

SINCE he retired as Manager of The Barns Centre in Thame, John Thomas has been diagnosed with an aggressive and progressive lung condition called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, for which there is currently no known cure.

Now, John’s son, Gareth is planning to run the Virgin London Marathon on April 24, as part of ‘Team Breathe supporting The British Lung Foundation’ and John is urging everyone who can to support Gareth who wants to raise £2,000 to support research into Idiopathic Pulminory Fibrosism and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

You can find out more about Gareth’s challenge and how to donate by visiting: https://www.justgiving.com/gareth-thomas2016run/

THAME and Moreton residents are be asked to pay more in their next Council Tax bills, towards the services provided by Thame Town Council.

This increase in the ‘precept’ (the portion of the Council Tax that goes to Thame Town Council) will amount to an increase of £12.34p per annum for the average Band D household, which amounts to 24p per week. The council has said that it has looked hard at where it can make savings, both in terms of cuts and further efficiencies, while at the same time: “providing the projects, functions and services that the community of Thame expect to be delivered.”

At last night’s council meeting to agree the budget for 2016-17,  Cllr Mike Dyer said: “The increase in the precept is 80% a result of what is being done to us, not what we are doing! The increase is totally defencible; there is no alternative.”

Cllr David Bretherton added: “If we didn’t put the precept up, we would have to reduce services.”

Cllr Nigel Champken Woods said that the town council had absorbed increases before, only to find itself having to ‘wack up’ the charge a couple of years later. “It’s better to go through the pain now,” he said, “than to be ‘bitten in the rear end’ in a couple of year’s time.”

The full statement, explaining where the money goes and why the increase is thought necessary, can be found on Thame Town Council’s website: http://www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/

THE Chilterns Conservation Board is offering the opportunity to learn the ancient skill of hedge-laying with one of the country’s foremost experts on traditional rural skills. Nigel Adams, named by Prince Charles as one of his top ten Champions of the Countryside, has over 30 years’ experience of hedge-laying. He will be leading the two-day course at Britwell Hill, near Watlington in south Oxfordshire, on 13th – 14th February 2016.

The course is suitable for novices and also those with some experience of hedge-laying who want to develop their skills further. It’s taking place in the lovely surroundings of Britwell Hill which has wonderful views over the Vale of Oxford. All tools and equipment are provided.

Laying a hedge in the traditional way is very effective for maintaining the life and health of a hedge and making it a valuable home for wildlife. The traditional art of hedge-laying was once common across the English countryside and many Chilterns hedges still show evidence of previous laying. Originally hedges were laid to create an impenetrable barrier to keep stock in fields and the skill of laying a hedge was once common practice. However, with modern fencing and mechanical hedge trimming, this traditional form of hedge management is now much rarer.

Anyone can attend the course, no previous experience is required. To find out more and book a place contact the Chilterns Conservation Board on 01844 355500 or email office@chilternsaonb.org

THAME Town Council, spurred on by a letter from a resident, is to consider additional ways of reducing and clearing litter from the town, including a ‘Clean for the Queen’ campaign, as part of commemorations for the Queen’s 90th birthday this year.

In response to recent evidence that ‘prevention is better than cure’ and that  ‘positive’ calls to action rather than ‘Don’t…’ signage and notices are more effective in tackling littering, the council will discuss its strategy at Tuesday’s meeting of the full council.

You can read the full report that will be discussed here: LINK

How else should Thame celebrate the Queen’s birthday in June?

If you have an ideas about how the town can celebrate Her Majesty’s 91st year in style, then the town council wants to hear from you! Send your ideas via email: info@thametowncouncil.gov.uk, pop in to the Information Centre at the town hall or send them a tweet! https://twitter.com/ThameTC

THE removal of a support grant by South Oxfordshire District Council and an increase in Employer National Insurance contributions through central Government, will effect the town council’s budget for the coming year, and possibly on how much Council Tax Thame residents will be asked to pay.

A proposed budget to be presented to councillors at Tuesday’s council meeting. will show an estimated total net expenditure for 2016-17, of £596,209 – all of which will have be raised from the residents of Thame through their Council Tax, an increase from last year of just under £40,000. The council does have some sources of new money to call on to help off-set the losses, including a Localism Fund of £8,000 to spend on work that would have previously been carried out by the county council, and £14,000 of District Council funding for town centre economic development projects. But the list of things the council has to find money for is growing.

At tomorrow’s meeting (19/01), the council will be asked to consider and approve the budget for 2016-17, to agree that £596,209 be raised for the precept (Thame’s part of the Council Tax fund) for 2016-17.

You can read the whole of the Budget report to councillors here: LINK

THAME Town Council is preparing to lobby the Government to allow Neighbourhood Plans to be legally updated in certain circumstances.

The town council is wary of new circumstances arising that would cause Neighbourhood Plans to be overridden, such as new government planning laws or the imposition of extra housing as a result of revised local plans.

The Town Council also believes that if circumstances were to arise where aspects of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan (TNP) could be impossible to carry through, such as the inability to raise funds for new infrasructure, there should be a legal mechanism for the Plan to be updated, in agreement with local people.

The Chairman of the Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Committee, Bob Austin, said: “As a neighbourhood planning front runner, it is important that we in Thame work out how we wish any amendments to be incorporated into the Neighbourhood Plan, whilst preserving its basic principles.”

He continued: “At the moment there is no legal process for Neighbourhood Plans to be updated. Because we are pioneers, an exemplar even, we are in a unique position to advise on how it should be done. What we are proposing would be a lobbying document, showing the direction we think we should be going in based on our experience of developing and implementing what is ‘a living document’.

“We do not know what SODC will have for us from SHMAR. A large allocation of extra houses might kick in which would, for instance, affect on our recreation space or our town centre. It’s about scale; if it is a large allocation, a new referendum would be needed!”

The lobbying document being prepared by the Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Committee would need to go to the full town council for approval.

BACKGROUND posts – Thame Neighbourhood Plan –  https://www.thame.net/?s=Neighbourhood+plan

FANS of Midsomer Murders will know that Thame locations,  including the town hall, have been used in many episodes of the long-running, murder-mystery TV series.

Masquerading as ‘Causton Town Hall’, Thame Town Hall has appeared in several episodes, including ‘Not in my backyard’ 2011, and is a regular stop on the Midsomer Murders tourist trail, for visitors from all over the world. From yesterday, fans of DCI Barnaby can call in at the town hall and take a ‘selfie’ with the new Causton Town Hall plaque.

Other Thame locations have included Rumsey’s cafe, the old Thame Information Centre at Market House, The Spread Eagle Hotel, Buttermarket and the Tuesday market.

To find out more about Midsomer Murders guided tours, visit: http://www.visitmidsomer.com/guided-tours/

ALTHOUGH Planning permission has been granted to Rectory Homes for 37 dwellings on land at The Elms, work has not yet started and Rectory Homes has recently held pre-application discussions with South Oxfordshire District Council on alternative proposals to provide 80-85 care-provided retirement apartments for the over 60s.

But, such a development would not conform with the Thame Neighbourhood Plan, which came into effect two years ago, and Thame Town Council has said that it would be unlikely to support any such plan.

Other potential threats to the Neighbourhood Plan

This proposal is just one of the aspects of the TNP identified in the recently published, Thame Neighbourhood Plan Monitoring and Delivery Report.  Of particular concern to the town council’s Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Committee, which met on Tuesday evening (13/01), is a recent ruling from a Planning Inspector that allowed development on a Neighbour Plan reserve site in Leicestershire, ahead of NP allocated sites being developed. This ruling could have consequences for Thame’s own Reserved sites, part of Site F (Oxford Road) and part of Site C (east of Thame Park Road) because at present, the Thame NP allows for development on these ‘reserved’ sites, only if the proposed amalgamation of Lord Williams’s Lower school site with the Upper school site does NOT go ahead, which if it did, would  free up the lower school site for housing.

Additional Health care facilities – Thame TC has held discussions with the Thame Cattle Market Action Group and SODC about considering the site as a potential location for a new Health Hub, as part of a mixed development.

All Section 106 agreements (Developer contributions for local projects) for all sites that already have outline or full planning permission, include a contribution towards health facilities, though recently introduced central Government restrictions relating to Section 106 pooling have now restricted opportunities (SEE LINK ). A Health Summit Group is apparently assessing the needs and deficiencies in health provision in the Thame to come up with a strategy with other healthcare partners, for planning how to meet future needs.

Community facilities – Regarding provision for a new Community Facility in the TNP, the report states that all Section 106 agreements for all sites with outline or full planning permission include a contribution towards community facilities, though once again, central Government restrictions relating to S106 pooling as mentioned above, have curtailed options somewhat.

Another of the Working Groups under the auspices  of the NP Continuity Committee is The Infrastructure Delivery Plan Working Group and one of its tasks is to establish how funds will be allocated against the various facilities required. The report states that siscussions are underway with the Thame and District Housing Association and the local Air Cadets on a potential additional facility at Southern Road Recreation Ground.

New burial space – The town council’s report indicates that there has been resistance from the developers of Sites C1 and D to meet this requirement of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan. It is claimed that a desk top study has shown the land to be unsuitable for burials as the area being suggested is near the flood plain. A S106 financial contribution has been allocated as an alternative, and is being sought from all sites. The S106 Agreement for Site C includes a commitment to undertake 12-month land suitability testing and, if found to be suitable, to gift land for such a site, or if not suitable, to provide a financial contribution. This could be used, suggests the report, to extend the existing St Mary’s graveyard or used towards creating a town cemetery at a new location. No alternative land has been identified so far.

SHMAR recommendations to 2031

It has not yet been decided how the extra houses that the recent SHMAR ((Strategic Housing Market Assessment Report) identified a need for in the district (SEE LINK for background) will be distributed. Therefore the effect on the Thame Neighbourhood Plan cannot be assessed until the various Local Authorities across Oxfordshire have reviewed the situation and decided where these additional homes will be built.

The preferred options stage is expected to be published by the district council in Spring 2016.

SOME POSITIVE PROGRESS !

Moving around Thame – A long-discussed cycle route between Thame and Haddenham and Thame Parkway station is a priority of the Green Living Plan Working Group, part of the Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Committee. All Section 106 agreements for all sites that have outline or full planning permission, have included a contribution to Oxfordshire County Council towards this specific cycle route, and Consultants have been asked to delve further into the current status of such a route with both OCC and Bucks CC who are responsible for the land along which a route would most likely take, and funding costs and opportunities.

Improvements to open spaces in Lea Park – Initial work has been carried out by 21st Century Thame , in conjunction with the Lea Park Residents Association, towards providing pedestrian and cycle signage, at both Site F and Lea Park. Funding for improved pedestrian / cycle signage in both these areas has been secured through the Site F Section 106 agreement, within the Public Art category.

The second priority for the Green Living Plan Working Group are Travel Plans, which, the report says, may be threatened by recent proposals to abolish bus subsidies by Oxfordshire County Council. The plan states that ‘Assessments of public transport opportunities by the Town Council will continue for all allocated and significant windfall sites, as part of their recommendations to the Planning Authority.”

You can read the whole of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan Monitoring and Delivery Report HERE 

All these challenges to the Thame Neighbourhood Plan will be faced by the various Working Groups of The Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Committee, but its Chairman, Cllr Bob Austin, told Thame.Net after the meeting on Tuesday, that: “Along with the various groups, institutions and people of Thame out there, we are determined to make the Neighbourhood Plan, which is a living document, with its many different levels of needs, wants and aspirations,  work to keep Thame a sustainable and vibrant town into the future.”