• Parish Council meetings were held on Zoom on 16 & 29 March & 12 April 2021.    Agendas and minutes are available on the PC web site.   http://www.bloxhamparishcouncil.co.uk/
• All Parish Council meetings are open to the public and are held twice a month; the first Monday (unless it is a bank holiday, then it is the Monday of the following week) and either the third Tuesday or Wednesday.  Both meetings include consideration of planning applications. These meetings are also forums for residents to raise issues of concern.
• Parish Council meetings will continue to be held on Zoom and agendas will be available on the PC web site as usual.  The Clerk should be contacted for further details, however, the Zoom joining details are published at the top of the agendas.

• 5 & 19 May 2021 at 7.30pm on Zoom.
• Bloxham Annual Parish Council meeting is being held on Thursday 22 April 2021 at 730pm on Zoom.

• 21/00557/F, Creek Cottage, Little Bridge Road, Bloxham – The Parish Council objected to an application for a side and rear extension.
• 21/00444/F, 34 Greenhills Park, Bloxham – The Parish Council had no objections to an application for the erection of a first floor extension above the existing single storey garage, to provide larger bedrooms and an en-suite to the master bedroom.
• 21/00605/F, Penny Meadow, 2 The Ridgeway, Bloxham – The Parish Council had no objections to an application for a first floor rear extension, however if the application is approved, loading should be completed at the rear of the site to ensure that The Ridgeway does not become blocked. 
• 21/00797/F, 19 Colesbourne Road Bloxham – The Parish Council had no objections to an application for a garage conversion, flat roof changed to pitched roof, two new rooflights, porch enlargement and material and fenestration alternations.
• 21/00511/F, Wooden Hill Farm Barford Road Bloxham – The Parish Council objected to an application for the variation of condition 2 (plans) of 19/01744/F – retain the steel portal frames and the existing roof profile.
• 21/00576/F, Brompton Farm, South Newington Road, Bloxham – The Parish Council had no objections an application for a two storey side and single storey rear extension.
• 21/00693/F, 14 Schofields Way, Bloxham – The Parish Council objected to an application for a change of use of amenity land to domestic use and erection of a fence.
• 21/01015/F, Hifields, Banbury Road, Bloxham – The Parish Council had no objections to an application for the demolition of existing conservatory & single-storey extension, an erection of new single storey extension. Install 2no windows to existing ground floor side elevation and infill main entrance open porch to create new closed porch entrance and internal alterations.
• 21/00958/ADV, Co-op, High Street, Bloxham – The Parish Council objected to an application for an internally illuminated fascia sign, 1no internally illuminated projecting sign, 3 no. non-illuminated window graphics.
• Clarification will be sought from Cherwell District Council to determine the areas of amenity land in the village and where these have been fenced off by residents.

Planning applications and the Parish Council’s comments could be viewed at https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/info/115/planning/443/see-or-comment-on-a-planning-application23as

• Walkers going over Hobb Hill will notice posts and string at the gates and on the footpath. The farmer is using these to guide users to the location of the Public Right of Way.  The farmer will be making hay in the field this year. If the ground becomes compacted it becomes unusable.  Walkers should try to keep to the right, close to the hedge on the way up from Courtington Lane and at the top, walk straight down to the kissing gate at the bottom on Ells Lane.  Please keep to the paths and enjoy your walks up Hobb Hill…a good pair of wellies / boots always helps.
• Potholes, overhanging trees or hedges and street lighting issues can be reported by residents at https://fixmystreet.oxfordshire.gov.uk/  When reporting on this site, photographs are useful.
• Please do not park on the grass verges as this destroys them and damages the appearance of the whole village.
• There are no allotments in Bloxham, however there are some in Milton which can be rented.  More information can be obtained by contacting Harriet Featherstone at Carter Jonas.   harriet.featherstone@carterjonas.co.uk
• Three specific areas of biodiversity will be progressed with wild flowers by the new Biodiversity Group, on grass verges in the village and more information is available on the PC web site.  https://www.bloxhamparishcouncil.co.uk/news-story.php?newsid=74
• If residents see litter lying around the village, please could you pick it up and dispose of it in a litter bin.  Litter picking equipment is available from the Parish Council.
• DOGS MUST BE KEPT ON A LEAD IN THE JUBILEE PARK PLAY AREA, AS PER THE SIGNAGE
• It was agreed in principle to replace the VAS on the A361 by Bloxham Recreation Ground, subject to confirmation of funding sources.
• ‘No Mow in May’, grass verges would not be cut in May, to encourage biodiversity in the village.
• The Gogs footpath had been cleared by the PC’s contractor and now looks much better and the footpath is far wider.
• The Parish Council thanks all of the residents who have been volunteer litter picking and take pride in the appearance of the village.
• A new litter bin on the bus stop outside of the Ex-Servicemen’s Hall would be considered at the next meeting due to amount of litter left in this area whilst people wait for a bus, despite there being a litter bin a few yards away.
• Significant damage has been caused to fences along the footpath in the village and if it does not stop, some of these routes would be closed by the land owners.  Bags of dog mess have also been strewn over hedges and fields.  Please respect the countryside and clean up after your pets!
• The Footpaths Officer would be advised about the poor state of the footpath near to Warriner School to establish what could be done to improve its condition.

• The Parish Council agreed that Members’ Allowances would not be paid to Councillors for 2021/2022, except for travel and subsistence.
• A Community Benefits Section 106 List would be submitted to Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council.
• ‘Containing Covid-19 Outbreak Management Fund’ – Bloxham Parish Council is pleased to announce that its grant application to Cherwell District Council to support organisations coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic has been successful.  The Cherry Tree Centre and St Mary’s Thursday Day Centre will be receiving sums which will support families and elderly people in the village, and ensure that both Centres can open and be Covid-19 secure.  The Parish Council thanks Cherwell District Council for supporting these important Bloxham facilities.
• The Parish Council accounts for 2020/2021 had been approved and the internal audit had been completed.

• There are now four vacancies on the Parish Council.  Please contact the Clerk for more details if you are interested in the roles.  bloxhamparishcouncil@gmail.com
• The 2021 Bloxham Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Zoom on Thursday 22 April 2021 at 730pm.  All residents are invited to attend.  The agenda is available on the PC web site and Zoom details are on the agenda.
• If any residents would like to be involved with the Parish Council’s Traffic Calming Working Group to address speeding and other traffic issues in the village, please email the Clerk.
• Please could parents encourage their children to be careful of pedestrians when riding bikes on footpaths. There was recently a near miss between a child on a bike and an older member of the community on The Gogs footpath, but thankfully there were no injuries on this occasion.

• Residents are reminded that social distancing should be maintained at all times, staying two meters apart, but if this is not possible, it should be 1 meter with extra precautions, such as a face covering.
• The latest guidance on the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home

• Follow Bloxham Parish Council on Facebook.
• The Parish Council’s ‘Drop-In and Chat’ sessions are usually held from 10.30 am to 11.30 am on the second Saturday of every month at the Ex-Servicemen’s Hall, however they are currently cancelled due to Covid-19 Pandemic.
• Contact the Clerk, Theresa Goss, on 01295 710965, during normal office hours or email bloxhamparishcouncil@gmail.com