Statement on Outside Dining in the Market Place

Posted on By Pauline

Published by Northleach with Eastington Town Council on 12 October 2022.

The Town Council at its meeting on 28 September 2022 resolved to support an outline proposal from Cotswold District Councillor Tony Dale to widen the pavement on the Market Place.

The reasons given were that the pavement extension would benefit the community, especially the most vulnerable who would benefit from a safer environment and residents who enjoy the vibrant atmosphere that a pavement hospitality scene generates.

Gloucestershire Highways has been informed and we are awaiting further information from them on the design and costs of the scheme.

The Town Council appreciates that many people value the outside dining space while others are concerned about the loss of parking spaces. We have been working with all parties to try and find the best possible outcome for the town.

The tables and chairs on the Market Place were introduced during the pandemic after new laws simplified the process for issuing pavement licences. Grant monies were available to provide planters and barriers around the tables and chairs, and Town Council officers put considerable efforts into developing the scheme. Unfortunately, a second pavement licence was refused by Cotswold District Council and we learned that the first licence had been issued incorrectly. The legal department at Gloucestershire Highways has advised there is no legislation permitting tables and chairs on the carriageway. The Town Council felt it could not justify spending public money on the scheme when permission could be withdrawn at any moment.

We now know that the existing licence was not withdrawn but has not been renewed by Cotswold District Council. The Town Council is supporting the proposal to widen the pavement which would allow for pavement licences to be issued in the future and will share further information as it becomes available.

Any questions about pavement licences should be directed to Cotswold District Council.

ENDS

For information about the work of the Town Council, please contact us.

Notice of Vacancy in the Office of Councillor

Posted on By Mary

NOTICE is given that, due to the resignation of Mark Ogden, a vacancy has arisen for a Councillor for the Town Council.
The vacancy will be filled by election if a request from 10 local government electors for the Town is received within 14 working days of the date of this notice. The request must be received by 13th October 2022.

Requests should include each electors’ name and address and should be sent to the Chief Executive at the address below or by email to elections@cotswold.gov.uk
If an election is called, it will take place not later than 15th December 2022.

If 10 signatures are not received by the date given, the Town Council may fill the vacancy by co-option.  For further information please email the Town Clerk. clek@northleach.gov.uk

Support If You Are Worrying About Money

Posted on By Mary

As the cost of living rises, support is sometimes hard to find.  Cotswold District Council are supporting a new initiative called “Worrying about Money.”   A leaflet has been circulated which offers many ways, for those struggling financially, to access immediate assistance via a number of agencies and funding streams.  A copy of the leaflet can be found below.

Cotswold District Council Opens New Scheme to Help Residents With Energy Bills

Posted on By Mary

Cotswold District Council has opened applications for financial support to those most in need of help with their energy bills. The new scheme is for residents who were not eligible for the recent £150 council tax rebate.

The Government set the criteria for the original £150 rebate scheme which was targeted at households in Council Tax bands A-D. Additional funding was provided to councils to set up a local scheme to help those not supported by the original rebate.

The new scheme is intended to help support those most in need during the current cost of living crisis. It covers:

  • People living in properties banded E-H who are on low incomes or don’t pay council tax due to caring or health reasons
  • People on low income who pay energy bills but not council tax
  • People living in houses of multiple occupancy and on low income
  • People living in emergency or supported accommodation

The full list of eligibility criteria is available on the Council’s website along with a form to apply for the support. 

Those unable to use the website can telephone the Council for advice and support, however, the Council is encouraging people to apply online where possible to free up phone lines for those who need them most.

Cotswold District Council has moved as fast as possible to pay the original £150 rebate to those eligible, with most people who pay their Council Tax by Direct Debit now having received the payment. 

For those who don’t pay by Direct Debit, the Council does not hold the details to make a payment and is currently contacting those eligible to explain how to provide the required information to the Council so the payment can be made. 

The Council has to carry out a number of checks on those applying for the support to make sure fraud is not being committed. This may slow payments, but the staff working behind the scenes are working hard to process applications as quickly as possible.

More information on the rebate can be found on the Council website at cotswold.gov.uk/150rebate

Notice of Vacancy in the Office of Councillor

Posted on By Mary

NOTICE is given that, due to the resignation of Alan Wellman, a vacancy has arisen for a Councillor for the Town Council.
The vacancy will be filled by election if a request from 10 local government electors for the Town is received within 14 working days of the date of this notice. The request must be received by 28 April 2022.

Requests should include each electors’ name and address and should be sent to the Chief Executive at the address below or by email to elections@cotswold.gov.uk
If an election is called, it will take place not later than 5 July 2022.

If 10 signatures are not received by the date given, the Town Council may fill the vacancy by co-option.  For further information please email the Town Clerk. clek@northleach.gov.uk

Cotswold District Local Plan 2011-2031 Consultation

Posted on By Mary

Regulation 18 ‘Issues and Options’ Consultation is available for residents to view and submit comments between the following dates:

Start date: Friday 4th February 2022

End Date: Sunday 20th March 2022

The Local Plan is the statutory development plan setting out the principal policies and proposals for land use in the District. The Council has now reached the first formal consultation stage in the partial update process – known as the Regulation 18 ‘Issues and Options’ consultation.

The public consultation invites comments on a targeted update of the adopted Local Plan, focussing on specific issues and options covering 18 planning topics or themes. Last year the Council agreed a programme of work to update the Local Plan partially so that it can respond to the Council’s new Corporate Plan, climate and ecological emergency declarations and recent changes to national planning policy and guidance.

Your comments together with updated evidence will be considered and used to inform the next stage of the plan preparation process – the draft Local Plan Partial Update – which will be the subject of a further round of consultation in 2023.

Please note the deadline for comments is 11:59pm on Sunday 20th March 2022

It is important to be aware that names and comments, once processed, will be made publicly available on the Council’s website. A Local Plan Privacy Notice is available on the Council’s website.

To assist the consultation process, public drop-in events will be held on:

Wednesday 2nd March 2022 from 2pm until 6:30pm at the Committee Rooms, Council Offices, Trinity Road, Cirencester, GL7 1PX and

Wednesday 9th March 2022 from 2pm until 6:30pm at Moreton Area Centre, High Street, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 0AZ

Further supporting evidence documents, including FAQs, are available to view or downloaded on the Council’s website at: https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning-policy/

If you have any queries please contact the Forward Planning Team at Cotswold District Council on Tel: 01285 623000 or email: local.plan@cotswold.gov.uk