Sibford Scene Archive

There was a very disappointing attendance at the recent Annual Parish Meeting — perhaps an indication that a wider advertising of the event is required.

The Chairman’s report included the following items —

Street Lighting — Tenders have been received and accepted from MEB for 4 light columns (to include the additional light required in Cotswold Close) to the sum of £3,242 of which we should be able to recupe approximately £2,100 from the District Council by way of a grant.

Tysoe Fire Brigade – A proposal from Warwickshire CC to close the Tysoe Fire Station had been noted and the Parish Council wrote an objection to such a closure as Tysoe give us good cover should Hook Norton not be available. We do not yet know of the final decision.

Planning — The major planning approved in the past year was Tanners Coach Yard where outline permission was given to develop this site for housing. No details as to number or size of houses has yet been applied for.

Grants – We get many requests for grants from various bodes. Some are of obvious benefit to parishioners eg Sibford Scene, Play Area and Chipping Norton Theatre. Others having a more tenuous connection make our decision more difficult eg. Citizens Advice Bureau, Warriner School, Oxfordshire Playing Fields Association. We would like to know if anyone has any views on the way we make grants — should they be extended, are we giving too many or are you happy with what we are doing at the moment?

Parish Precept – Cllr. Clipson giving the Financial Report said that the Precept requirement for 1991-92 had been set at $1236 and pointed out that this figure placed the Parish at the lower end on the scale of charges for the district.

Our Village takes its ‘Cue’ from Eric

Last year our Council challenged World Snooker for viewing ratings – and came second! This year it decided to hold the event a week later and was rewarded with an attendance of four Councillors and eight noble citizens.

The dust covers having been removed from the table and the green baize carefully brushed, our Chairman ‘cued’ off, and softly grazed the reds with a gentle Report.

He was followed by John (the Clerk) Berry who smashed into the reds, sending them in all directions, and then potted them one by one – accounts – potholes – grass verges – planning – road signs – new bus timetables.

As no representative from the Estate charity was available, our Clerk continued onto the green, reporting that, despite many good charity donations, the annual income over expenditure had amounted to about £10,000.

John (no, not Parrott!) Mulley took the blue and reported that, after cannoning off a multitude of cushions of ‘form filling’ and ‘bureaucracy’, he hoped that, sometime in the next decade, permission would be granted for the erection of Neighbourhood Watch signs on all roads leading to the Village.

With only one colour remaining. the referee then opened the Meeting to the breathless and expectant eight villagers. Fred (no, not Davis) Inns attacked the black – the dark sinister failure to treat our Conservation Area seriously and effectively.

Eric donned his white gloves and dashed from pocket to pocket to prevent the black from being ‘sunk’ as it cannoned round the table, with observations on red brick houses on skylines – wanton felling of trees – drainage — cars parked on the highway without road fund licences. In the end the referee was effective and the black remained on the table for Fred to tackle again next year.

The lights were dimmed and the dust covers replaced – as a lone voice wondered aloud about the amount of interest our Conservative District Councillor took in his Parish Council. Using his ‘God-given’ Filofax, which he keeps under his cap, our Chairman reported that our District Councillor had been advised of every meeting, but other commitments had prevented him attending more than once in the last three years.

That seemed a suitable moment for all to depart – Who Goes Home?

The Editor recently attended an all day seminar run by the O.R.C.C. for yillage newspapers. The conference represented over a hundred monthly newspapers stretching right across Oxfordshire.

One of the main purposes of the gathering was to indulge in criticism and acclamation.

The Scene received high praise for the new layout. (Both old and new were on display). We were also credited with an excellent front heading for its continuity and simplicity with subtle seasonal variations. (Thank you Mollie).

The actual variety of content was commented upon as an excellent mix and we were congratulated on the willing cooperation of so many contributors (Thank you all!) A pleasant touch of humour to lighten the information was appreciated (thank you Boundary Mani)

There were many criticisms but as most of these are the responsibility of the Editor, they are not for publication!! (Shame!) but he’s working on them.

Conclusion ~ steady improvement – Could do better!