News

Councillor vacancy

Sibford Gower Parish Council currently has three vacancies for parish councillors. With only two active members, the council is unable to hold meetings, make decisions, or take action for the benefit of our community.

To resolve this issue, Cherwell District Council will soon appoint a temporary member to allow us to become quorate and begin the process of co-opting new councillors. Once we have a new member from the community, the temporary appointee will step down.

Are you interested in making a difference?

We’re looking for enthusiastic people who want to help maintain and improve our village. The current term for this position runs until May 2026, at which point you would be welcome to stand for re-election.

The Parish Council meets four times a year (in Mar, May, Sep, and Dec) with additional meetings called as needed for planning applications or other urgent matters. We anticipate holding an early meeting to co-opt new members, so please express your interest soon.

CRITERIA FOR STANDING AS A PARISH COUNCILLOR

Candidates must fit at least one of the following criteria –

• On Electoral Register (i.e. registered to vote) for the parish
• Have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish/community area over the last 12 months
• Lived within 3 miles of the parish over the last 12 months
• Their principal place of work is in the parish and has been for at least 12 months

For more information or to apply please contact the Clerk on sibford.gower.pc@thesibfords.org.uk  or telephone 07419 126 206.

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.

Sibford Ferris Parish Council currently have a vacancy for a parish councillor. With only 4 members it can make it very difficult for the Parish Council to be quorate for meetings and get adequate feedback by e-mail when councillors are on holiday or ill so we are keen to get back to full strength asap.

If you are enthusiastic about your community and would like to work as part of a team to maintain and improve the village then please consider joining the Parish Council.

The Parish Council meet bi monthly with the next meeting being held at 7pm on 17th September 2025.  Candidates will be invited to attend that meeting to provide some information about themselves and why they want to join the council before the councillors vote on the co-option of 1 candidate.

CRITERIA FOR STANDING AS A PARISH COUNCILLOR

Candidates must fit at least one of the following criteria –

• On Electoral Register (i.e. registered to vote) for the parish
• Have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish/community area over the last 12 months
• Lived within 3 miles of the parish over the last 12 months
• Their principal place of work is in the parish and has been for at least 12 months

If you have any questions or would like to put your name forward to be considered for co-option please contact the clerk on sfpc@thesibfords.org.uk or 07419 126 206 no later than 5pm on Tuesday 16th 2025.

Both Sibford Ferris and Sibford Gower Parish Councils have been contacted asking if they will fund further CPR and defibrillator training sessions in the parish. The councils have already funded 3 sessions over the last two years and they would like to understand what the views are of residents as to whether there is a demand for more training, and whether it should continue to be funded using tax payers money, particularly given the cost has now increased significantly from the previous sessions held. Sibford Ferris Parish Council will be discussing this request at their meeting to be held on Wednesday 17th September so it would be very much appreciated if residents could provide their feedback to the Clerk before midday on 17th September. Information is requested from residents of both Sibford Ferris and Sibford Gower as the responses will be provided to both councils. 

Please email your responses to the following questions to the Parish Clerk on sfpc@thesibfords.org.uk

1. Would you be interested in attending a session in Sibford Village Hall to learn about use of the defibrillator and CPR?
2. Have you attended any of the previous sessions?
3. Do you think the councils should fund the sessions using funds obtained through Council Tax?
4. Do you think attendees should be asked to make a small contribution towards the cost, and if so, what level of contribution do you think would be acceptable?
5. Would you still want to attend if a contribution was required?
6. Do you live in Sibford Ferris or Sibford Gower?
7. Any other comments you wish to make?

Support your local surgery – get your flu vaccination here in October, between 11.10am and 12.30pm on Tuesday 7th or 14th and Thursday 9th.

If you can, please contact surgery reception 01295 780 213 to book an appointment, but if you just turn up you will probably not be disappointed.

The flu vaccine is recommended for people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu. It’s offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter. You can get the free NHS flu vaccine if you:

• are aged 65 or over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2026)
• have certain long-term health conditions (visit https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/flu-vaccine/ for more information on this)
• are pregnant
• live in a care home
• are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer’s allowance
• live with someone who has a weakened immune system.

NOTICE OF VACANCY

IN OFFICE OF PARISH COUNCILLOR

PARISH OF SIBFORD GOWER

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to section 87(2) of the Local Government Act 1972, that Alistair Paul has ceased to be a member of Sibford Gower, 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 24 September 2025), a request for an election to fill the said vacancy is made in writing to the Returning Officer, Cherwell District Council, 39 Castle Quay, Banbury, OX16 5FD by TEN electors for the said Parish.

In the event that no such request is received by 24 September 2025 the vacancy will be filled by co-option.

Gordon Stewart

Returning Officer

Dated 4 September 2025

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.

We are in exciting times as the work on the “reordering” of the church begins, to enlarge the community space; to add a toilet and kitchenette and to make the approach to the church building accessible to all including wheelchair users and prams.

Opus Property Services Ltd, our local building company, has been awarded the contract. Work begins week in the commencing October 5^th 2025 and is estimated to be completed by 12^th December.

This has many implications for us as a congregation as the work is carried out, especially the closure of the church for all services which has been agreed with Bishop Gavin. We are allowed to hold all services in the Village Hall with the exception of weddings, as the Village Hall is not licenced.

Our Services are to be held in the Village Hall at the usual times of:

• Second Sunday of the month: Lay service 10 am
• Third, fourth, fifth Sundays: Holy Communion 9.30am

The Benefice Eucharist on the first Sunday of each month will be at other churches in the Benefice.

We will keep everyone informed as the work progresses, month by month.

Barbara Foster
P.C.C. Secretary

Catherine Berks writes: It was a really successful Horti show on Saturday, with some wonderful entries, despite the incredibly dry weather we have had this year. The children in particular produced some great, imaginative entries.

A big thank you to all involved.

Oxfordshire school celebrates GCSE student’s outstanding results – Oxford Mail
A GCSE student at Sibford School has been praised for his “dedication” after achieving 10 grade 9s.