Thame.net

Author: Sonja Francis

  • More Decision Making Powers For Councillors

    OXFORDSHIRE County Council?s cabinet is to streamline the way it makes decisions with only one meeting a month rather than the current two.
    The following statement from the county council sums up the changes:

    Individual cabinet portfolio holders will now take decisions relevant to their areas on many of the issues that have traditionally gone to the full cabinet.
    The decisions of the individual cabinet members will be taken in public, in the same way as the cabinet, with opposition and local members, the public and the media able to attend.

    Decisions that will still be taken to full cabinet will include:
    ? Budget deliberations and decisions.
    ? Departures from established policies/budgets.
    ? Decisions with major implications for more than one portfolio
    ? Any matter which the portfolio holder wishes to remit to the full cabinet.
    ? Any matters in which a portfolio holder has a prejudicial interest.
    ? Any other matters at the request of any other member of the cabinet.
    ? Financial and performance monitoring reports.
    ? Reports from scrutiny committees and reviews.
    ? Recommendations from scrutiny committees following call ins of earlier decisions.

    All papers/agendas for cabinet portfolio holder meetings will be circulated to the public and media, in exactly the same way as cabinet papers are currently sent out.

    Councillors and members of the public will have the right to speak at portfolio holder meetings in the same way as they have at cabinet.

    Cllr Keith Mitchell, the county council?s leader, said: ?Our aim is to retain complete democratic transparency while rationalising the time required of councillors and officers so that they can focus on their jobs for the benefit of everyone in Oxfordshire.
    ?I am confident that this new system will achieve those two aims and the decision making process will be as democratic as ever while also being streamlined. I look forward to the new system beginning in September.?

  • Family Fun At Aston Rowant (Contributed)

    LOOKING for something exciting to do with the children? Why not come to Aston Rowant Nature Reserve on Sunday, July 2, and take part in some fun environmental activities?
    The Chilterns Conservation Board is teaming up with English Nature for a Nature Family Fun Day. Drop in at any time between 12 noon and 4pm to find out more about wildlife and nature in the Chilterns.

    Have a go at willow weaving, plant some seeds, learn how to make a witches broom and make mobiles out of natural materials. All activities take place on the part of the reserve opposite Cowleaze Wood car park on the Christmas Common Road, not far from Stokenchurch.

    The event is free, though some activities have a small charge. There?s no need to book. For more information call Anne at the Aston Rowant Nature Reserve on 01844 351 833.

  • Family Fun At Aston Rowant (Contributed)

    LOOKING for something exciting to do with the children? Why not come to Aston Rowant Nature Reserve on Sunday, July 2, and take part in some fun environmental activities?
    The Chilterns Conservation Board is teaming up with English Nature for a Nature Family Fun Day. Drop in at any time between 12 noon and 4pm to find out more about wildlife and nature in the Chilterns.

    Have a go at willow weaving, plant some seeds, learn how to make a witches broom and make mobiles out of natural materials. All activities take place on the part of the reserve opposite Cowleaze Wood car park on the Christmas Common Road, not far from Stokenchurch.

    The event is free, though some activities have a small charge. There?s no need to book. For more information call Anne at the Aston Rowant Nature Reserve on 01844 351 833.

  • Commercial Vehicle Weekend

    THE Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway will be holding a Commercial Vehicle Weekend this coming Saturday and Sunday, July 1 and 2.
    Trains depart Chinnor station at 10.00, 11.00, 12.15, 1.15, 2.15, 3.15 and 4.30pm.

    No need to book, just come along and enjoy.

  • Appeal For Missing Cat

    Have you seen a missing black and white cat?
    The owners think that a car travelling along the Kingsey road late on Thursday night (22nd June) may have injured him. He was seen to go off in the direction of Sevenacres.

    If you have seen him, are taking care of him, or if you have any other information, please contact 01844 217449.

  • Cowardy Custard From Chinnor Musical Theatre

    CHINNOR Musical Theatre are proud to bring you a night of elegance and side-splitting hilarity.
    ‘Cowardy Custard? had a triumphant first night at the Mermaid Theatre, London on July 10, 1972 and ran for a year. Of all the tributes paid to ‘The Master’ after his seventieth birthday celebrations in 1970, this was the most successful. For those young enough to have missed Coward the first time around, the show is a revelation ~ the freshness of the famous pieces, the delight of less familiar material, and the continued relevance of Coward’s powerful satire.
    “The Master” of 20th Century entertainment ~ Sir Noel Coward.
    Coward’s roots ~ for all his international success and cosmopolitan image ~ were firmly in London. Born in Teddington, just before the beginning of the twentieth Century, his work recalls, with great affection and wit, his upbringing in London’s suburbs and his early days struggling in the fiercely competitive London theatre of the 1920’s. London has always been a strong inspiration to Coward ~ songs such as London Pride, London at Night and the London song sequence from his 1960’s Broadway musical -The Girl Who Came To Supper” (all included in “Cowardy Custard”) show him at his lyrical and musical best.
    The main problem for the writers was obviously one of selection! In the history of 20th Century popular music, only Cole Porter among other composer-lyricists has rivalled Coward’s extraordinary range.
    The songs in “Cowardy Custard” extend from the archetypal ’20’s Coward of Poor Little Rich Girl and Dance, Little Lady, the romantic, lyrical mood “Bitter-Sweet”, to the strong blues and jazz vein of Mad about the Boy and Twentieth Century Blues, and of course the perennially inventive comic songs (Marvellous Party, Nina, Mrs Worthington etc.). Coward once wrote that the impulse to write songs was born in him, and the show covers half-a-century of composing, from his earliest revue songs to the 1960’s Broadway musicals. With such a variety, it is hardly surprising that it includes songs which Coward himself confessed he had almost forgotten having written.
    Only one thing was missing – a suitable title. A telegram from Coward himself, in Jamaica, suggesting “Cowardy Custard”, added the final ingredient, and a production initially intended for a limited eight-week season turned out to be one of the most successful shows in the Mermaid’s history.
    You are bound to enjoy this ?marvellous? piece of modern history. You?ll be surprised at how many of these wonderful songs you already know and you?ll also be amazed at how relevant most of the sentiments still are!
    Don?t be a ?Cowardy Custard?
    July 15th 7:30pm
    Lord Williams Lower School, Thame
    Box Office: 01844 353422

  • 10K Success – Despite Bullying Driver Hazard

    WITH over 700 entries, 2006 saw one of the biggest ever Thame 10K road races, marred only slightly by one entrant collapsing short of the finish and an impatient driver creating challenges for a steward.
    The young runner was helped by therapy staff from The Practice and assisted over the finishing line.
    An eye witness to the ugly incident on the Thame by-pass, Norman Brand, made the following comments:
    “Congratulations to the stewards of the Thame Road Race for their courteous supervision of the traffic and hundreds of runners at the Towersey Road/by pass junction on Sunday. And shame on the bullying motorist who overtook several patient, stationary cars and slowly forced his way past a woman steward who had the anxious task of looking out for competitors and at the same time avoiding being mown down. This driver called out: ‘We’ve got people waiting for us.’ He must have had tremendous faith in the road system if he did not plan the possibility of a short delay into his journey. He might have encountered a traffic jam, for instance. The woman steward acted with great presence of mind, not to mention bravery. Perhaps a suitable penance would be for the driver to encounter her socially some time: at a parents’ evening maybe, or the National Trust, or a hospital waiting room: better still, the dentist’s. Where would he put himself?

    Full times and placing on Thame Runners’ website:
    Link

    Photo By Rob Wheal, Thame

  • Metroland Poet To Visit Thame

    THAME artists continue to show their work this weekend, at the Arts Cafe, at ‘Pickles’ in the Upper High Street, which on Sunday, will include readings linked to the display.
    Metroland poet, Margaret Norman will be in the cafe between 2-4pm and moving image pieces will be shown throughout the day, begining at 11am.
    The work on display is mixed media and includes print making, textiles, Paperworks, Book works, Ceramics and Assemblage.
    Many of the artist will be on-hand to chat about their work.
    The exhibition, which runs until July 2, is part of a Bucks Open Studios event. It is open between 11am and 5pm with special events on Sundays throughout.

  • Lewknor Car Park Warning

    THAME police are warning commuters who take the Oxford Tube, to beware following a spate of car crime in the parking area there.
    The car park, near junction six of the M40, has become a crime hotsport recently, with nine incidents since January, including seven thefts of motorvehicles.
    Lesley Nesbitt, Crime Preventiion Officer at Thame police station, suggests the following actions to prevent drivers from becoming the victims of crime:
    * Always lock your car and close all windows
    * Never leave valuable in your car
    * Use alarms and steering locks
    * Report any suspicious activity by contacting the
    Police Enquiry Line 0845 850 5505, or Crimestoppers
    anonymously 0800 555111

    photo: Lancashire Police

  • New Neighbourhood Police Initiative

    A NEW initiative to involve communities more in tackling crime locally, is being rolled out in the Thame area.
    Neighbourhood Policing will mean a slightly different role for PC Russel Hounslow, the Thame Community Beat Office, and the formation of a local NAG, or Neighbourhood Action Group. The latter will be based around the current Thame Community Safety Group.
    The initiative will begin with a public meeting at which local people will be invited to list their three top crime concerns which will then be prioritised by Inspector Stuart Dunbar and his team at Thame police station.
    PC Hounslow will become known as the Neighbourhood Officer and will have a network of local people from different sectors of the community, like Business, Youth etc., who will inform him of any particular concerns the group they represent may have, and he will then take those concerns back to the NAG, which will feed back to the police for action.
    The scheme has already been piloted elsewhere in the region and should be fully implemented by March 2008.

    A date for the public meeting will announced soon.