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Upton Village

South Oxfordshire

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Share your views on Thames Valley Police budget

December 16, 2022

As part of an ongoing local crime survey, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley is asking residents to share views on where they would like the policing budget to be focused in 2023/24.

Continue Reading Share your views on Thames Valley Police budget

Filed Under: Parish Council

Adverse Weather warning from the Met Office.

December 7, 2022

 This is a Cold Weather Alert Level-3, in effect from 18:00hrs Wednesday 7th December – 09:00hrs Monday 12th December.

This may be extended as the cold conditions currently look to continue further into next week.
Continue Reading Adverse Weather warning from the Met Office.

Filed Under: Parish Council

Village Consultation December 2022 UPDATE

December 7, 2022

***Change of venue***

The village consultation on Thursday 15 th December from 7pm will now be held at St. Marys Church.

You are probably aware that until their improvement project is completed, the church doesn’t have any “facilities”.

Filed Under: Parish Council

Village Consultation & Communication

December 2, 2022

Meeting in the village hall on Thursday 15th December at 7:00 pm.

Upton Parish Council will set its budget in December and wants to communicate the choices
it faces and to seek the views of villagers regarding their priorities.
Our income is primarily the parish precept which is a small proportion of the council tax
levied on every household. In addition we may have donations, grants (where available) and
VAT reclaims. Last year the Parish Council substantially increased the precept as it had been
largely unchanged for some years. The 2022-23 precept was £24,326, which equates to
£108 p.a. for a band D property.
In round numbers, our income from all sources for 2022 was £30,000. Of this £11,500 was
used to cover fixed costs such as insurance, salaries, audits, subscriptions, IT etc. However,
the largest expenses the Parish Council incurs is the provision, inspection and maintenance
of the playground equipment at £13,000 and the maintenance of the recreation grounds
and village pathways at £5,500.
Our fixed costs will increase in 2023 by £5000 as we must take on a trainee clerk to ensure
that there will be someone in post who is qualified when the current clerk retires. Also we
have to pay for the emptying of waste bins on the rec as Biffa do not collect off-road. In
2023 we plan to employ contractors to maintain the grounds and pathways. Whilst we are
grateful to the volunteers who have been looking after some aspects up to now, the more
onerous tasks have, perhaps understandably, been neglected. For example the footpath to
Chilton and the cemetery extension are unacceptably overgrown. Whilst there is an increase
in costs resulting from this decision, there are savings too as we will not have to provide our
own equipment, fuel and insurance. It will cost us £5500 to bring things up to scratch and
for the ongoing maintenance for the year.
The play equipment is nearing the end of its life and therefore in need of more stringent
inspections by a third party and more repairs to ensure its continuing safety. We estimate
this will cost us £9000 in 2023 but we also need to put aside a reserve for replacement or
accept that when it is no longer repairable it is taken out of service. Upton’s play equipment
is well used both by visitors from outside the village and by residents’ children and
grandchildren. We welcome this wider use but recognise that it is only Upton villagers that
have to bear the costs.
Summary 2023:

Fixed costs
Maintenance cost
Play equipment
Total
£16,500
£5,500
£9,000
£31,000

Without an increase in the precept even this expenditure would mean the council drawing
on its limited reserves.

There are major projects to be done too. There is a legal requirement to provide a stockproof fence at the field boundary of the rec and, because of the visitor influx, parking at the
recreation ground is inadequate and the overflow area requires work. Money needs to be
put aside for these items and for replacement of the play equipment when it is beyond
repair; they could be delayed but the longer things are left, the more they will cost.
As with current household budgets we need to make difficult choices, the big questions are:
Should we increase the precept by, say, the current rate of inflation or even more to enable
us to maintain the current services? (N.B. 15% increase would be just £1.35 additional
monthly cost for a band D property).
Do we remove rather than replace end-of-life play equipment?
Do we reserve funds for major projects with a consequently larger increase in the precept?
The Parish Council will make these decisions but would like to know the views of villagers as
it is your money we are responsible for spending. Please come to a meeting in the village
hall on Thursday 15
th December at 7:00 pm to give your input or contact the parish clerk at
parish.clerk@uptonvillage.co.uk if you cannot make it in person.

Filed Under: Parish Council

Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held in the meeting room at Upton village hall on Thursday 29th September 2022 at 7.00 pm.

November 30, 2022

This meeting replaced that originally scheduled for the 20th September, which was cancelled following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Continue Reading Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held in the meeting room at Upton village hall on Thursday 29th September 2022 at 7.00 pm.

Filed Under: Minutes, Parish Council

Temporary Road Closure and “No Waiting” restriction at West Hagbourne, Brook Lane

November 28, 2022

Temporary Traffic Regulation Notice – S14 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

A temporary Notice is being made to implement the temporary closure and will operate on 12 December 2022 between 08:00 and 15:30.Continue Reading Temporary Road Closure and “No Waiting” restriction at West Hagbourne, Brook Lane

Filed Under: District and County Information

Didcot & Villages Health Care

November 23, 2022

Healthwatch Oxfordshire is hosting an online Open Forum on Tuesday 29th November from 4.30pm to 5.30pm, and all are welcome to attend to have your say about Continue Reading Didcot & Villages Health Care

Filed Under: Parish Council

Checking your benefits entitlement

November 23, 2022

From Age UK Oxfordshire – With financial difficulties becoming an issue for more and more people, now is a good time to check your benefits entitlement. Government grants for support with fuel bills Continue Reading Checking your benefits entitlement

Filed Under: Parish Council

White Horse Cost of Living support information  

November 23, 2022

Our Cost of Living leaflet has details of the support available for residents who are finding things difficult.

Residents who need any further information on the support that’s available locally can Continue Reading White Horse Cost of Living support information  

Filed Under: District and County Information

Action taken to help deliver affordable housing  

November 23, 2022

A new housing delivery strategy and action plan to help bring more genuinely affordable homes to the Vale of White Horse has been approved by Cabinet Members.

The new housing delivery strategy aims to Continue Reading Action taken to help deliver affordable housing  

Filed Under: Parish Council

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Home Library Service

Upton seen in 1930

Panorama of Upton looking north

This photograph of Upton was taken from a point south of the George and Dragon

Read more >

St Mary’s, circa 1900

St Mary's, circa 1900

St Mary's, circa 1900

St Mary’s interior, circa 1900

St Mary's interior, circa 1900

St Mary's interior, circa 1900

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