Sibford Gower Parish Council Update

Following last week’s parish council meeting a few changes have taken place which I think residents should be aware of.

1. I was elected as Chairman of the Parish Council and Cllr Jackie Noquet was elected as the Vice-Chairman.
2. Two of the Sibford Gower Parish Councillors have resigned from the council which leaves only two members, meaning the council is now inquorate. For legal reasons, this means that the Parish Council (PC) cannot hold any PC meetings and therefore cannot make any decisions that require a decision at a meeting. This includes any new projects, co-option of new councillors, new spending, responding to District or County Council consultations, and any other issues that come up that the Clerk does not already have delegated powers to manage without the input of the PC. Cherwell District Council are now following the process for them to provide a new temporary member to the council to make the council quorate to allow the council to continue to function until new members from the parish can be found. The temporary councillor could be a County Councillor, District Councillor, or a member of a PC from the local area. This is not ideal if we are to represent local opinion but is necessary for the time being.  Please continue to contact the Clerk in the normal manner for any matters you would like to raise with the PC, but please be aware that, particularly on planning matters, if you have any views for support or objection you should make your own submission on the Cherwell Planning website.
3. Kirsty Buttle has returned to us as our Clerk. Kirsty has a huge wealth of knowledge as a Parish Clerk so a big welcome back to her.  It is with regret that we had to say goodbye to Cllr Alistair Paul at the meeting but I hope he will consider returning in the not too distant future.
4. Please could I encourage any volunteers who have considered joining the PC to come forward. If you’ve been unsure in the past about what it involves to be a councillor, then this is a good time to join. With elections due in May next year, when the whole council will be up for election, it gives you just a few months of commitment to find out what the PC does and how you can be involved. With an additional councillor I hope we can continue to represent the views of the majority of villagers.  Please contact the Clerk on sibford.gower.pc@thesibfords.org.uk if you would like more information.

Please bear with us during this time of transition, I hope that with your support we will soon be back to a fully functioning council with the local community at its heart.

Best Wishes

Cllr Alan Berks

Chair SGPC.