News

John Wass writes: It really is essential that we all know how to do CPR. If somebody drops down next to you, you really need to know how to keep the heart going.

We have arranged a further session in the Village Hall on Tuesday the 12th of November at 6.30pm. I  would encourage you to be able to manage this stressful situation which happily doesn’t happen too often but there is only ever one time to have a go.

Vacancy for Parish Clerk and Responsible Finance Officer

Sibford Gower Parish Council

Location: Home working with 4 ordinary meetings per year plus any additional meetings required in Sibford Gower

Number of hours: 20 per month

Salary range: LC2 SCR 22-26 (depending on qualifications and experience) £16.30 to £18.10 per hour

Working from home allowance: £12.00 per month

Sibford Gower Parish Council is looking for an enthusiastic and committed person to take on the role of Clerk and Responsible Finance Officer. The Parish Council has 5 councillors and a precept of £9,350 per annum.

Key Tasks

The role involves:

• Attending and managing Parish Council meetings including preparation of agendas, taking and preparing minutes and carrying out actions from the minutes;
• Advising the Parish Council on protocols and relevant local government legislation;

• Managing administration relating to the Parish Council, including record keeping, managing the review of planning applications, overseeing the implementation of projects and managing Parish Council contracts;
• Handling queries from outside organisations and parishioners, and communicating the Parish Council’s decisions;
• Managing Parish Council entries to the village website;
• Management of the Parish Council owned Burial Ground, and closed Churchyard;
• Preparing the annual budget, managing the Parish Council’s accounts, receipts and payments, and ensuring the smooth running of the annual external audit; and
• Ensuring that Parish Council insurance policies and risk/asset registers are kept up to date.

Skills and experience

Key skills include:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with high standards of tact and diplomacy;
• Excellent administrative skills, with high standards of accuracy and numeracy; and
• IT skills including use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PAYE and online banking.

Prior experience of working for parish councils is preferred. The ideal candidate will also have obtained a Certificate in Local Council Administration (CILCA).

How to apply

Should you have any queries about the role please e-mail the Clerk on Sibford.gower.pc@thesibfords.org.uk. If you are interested in applying, please e-mail your CV to the Chairman –  cllr.jackie.noquet@thesibfords.org.uk.  

The deadline for applications is 26^th October 2024, although we reserve the right to close the position sooner if we find the right candidate.

Local organiser Diana Hughes was interviewed by Katie Tyler on Radio Oxford on Sunday morning about the Tibetan monks’ visit to Sibford this weekend, and her connection with Tibet.

To hear the interview, visit https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0js7h91
The interview begins at 1:36:33 and lasts about 6 minutes.

For more information about the weekend visit thesibfords.uk/tlm

The above application has been lodged with Cherwell District Council (CDC) Planning Department. Due to the structure of the current Sibford Gower Parish Council we do not have the necessary quorum (3) of councillors to hold a public meeting or lodge a response to CDC regarding this matter. 

As a result, if you feel you would like to make a representation, then you should respond to the planning office on an individual basis. Dates for responses on the planning notice are very varied so we would advise responding as soon as possible. 

Cllr Alan Berks

Cllr Alistair Paul

Sibford Ferris Parish Council

Clerk to the Council: Kirsty Buttle

Clerks address: 74 Beaulieu Close

                          Banbury

                          Oxon

                          OX16 4FQ

Email: sfpc@thesibfords.org.uk                                                                                           

NOTICE OF VACANCY

IN OFFICE OF PARISH COUNCILLOR

PARISH OF SIBFORD FERRIS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to section 87(2) of the Local Government Act 1972, that Katherine Roussel has ceased to be a member of Sibford Ferris Parish Council, and that a vacancy now exists in the office of Councillor for the said Parish Council.

In accordance with the Local Elections Rules an election to fill the vacancy shall be held if, within 14 days after the date of this notice (i.e. no later than 31 October 2024), a request for an election to fill the said vacancy is made in writing to the Returning Officer, Cherwell District Council, Bodicote House, Bodicote, Banbury OX15 4AA by TEN electors for the said Parish.

In the event that no such request is received by 31 October 2024 the vacancy will be filled by co-option.

Graham Stewart

Returning Officer

Dated: 11 October 2024

Note:  In computing the fourteen days Saturdays, Sundays, day of Christmas break, of the Easter break or of a bank holiday or day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning are disregarded.

Comments deadline Friday 8 November.

An appeal has been lodged against CDC’s refusal of Planning Permission in Principle for the construction of up to five dwellings on the former Paddocks at the end of Backside Lane in Sibford Gower.

You can find documents relating to the appeal on the CDC website under reference 24/00045/REF . The original application is at 24/01766/PIP

You have until Friday 8 November to submit a representation to the Planning Inspector, via the Inspectorate website, under reference 3350881