Shropshire Council is due to commence a review of polling districts and polling places in accordance with the Representation of the People Act 1983 (as amended).

Representations are invited from stakeholders, partners and other interested parties such as electors, elected members, local political parties and organisations that have expertise in relation to access to premises for people with different forms of disability.

I would like to invite the Council to consider this review and make comments, if required, on polling places within your parish.

When making suggestions, please ensure the following:

1. That electors have such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances, and;

1. As far as is reasonable and practicable, that polling places are accessible to all electors, including those who are disabled, and, when designating a polling place, have regard to the accessibility needs of disabled persons.

The review commences on 2 October 2023 and the deadline for the submission of comments is 30 October 2023. This will allow for sufficient time to enable any alterations to be made to the revised register before it is published. A report outlining findings and final recommendations will be submitted to Council on 14 December 2023.

Call out for Hedge Creation Sites in Shropshire!

https://www.cpreshropshire.org.uk/hedgerow-project

CPRE Shropshire are seeking sites where they can plant new, native hedgerows this winter in the county.

They do not plant in garden settings, but are keen to find smallholdings, farms, community spaces, wildlife reserves/projects that are interested in having a new hedgerow this winter. Hedges are provided totally free of charge and the hedge whips are sourced locally in Shropshire. Planting is done by volunteers with an experienced lead. Tree guards are provided if needed. Unfortunately, our budget does not extend to providing livestock fencing.

We are also seeking existing (young – up to 15 years old) hedgerows that would be suitable for hedge-laying training for beginners.

Contact Sarah Jameson, CPRE Shropshire, for more information –admin@cpreshropshire.org.uk

Customer Service Centre Opening Times Consultation

Shropshire Council is consulting on proposed changes to its Customer Service Centre (CSC) opening times.The Customer Service Centrehandles telephone and other forms of contact from customers for around 50 different council services and is currently open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.

The Customer Service Centre handles some complex issues for Shropshire’s residents in relation to Adult Social Care, concerns for children, risk of homelessness or financial crisis affecting families. These types of contact from people will always need a skilled adviser and will not be affectedby the proposed changes.However many other calls are for the more “generalist” side of Shropshire Council’s Customer Service Centre (CSC) and are for relatively simple requests that can be made another way, particularly using online requests.It is the opening hours for these services that form the proposal for change. Existing calls data has been used to identify proposed changes in opening times. Under proposals, the CSC would still be open six hours a day, five days a week for those who still want to contact the council this way but there are different options. The consultation seeks views on the options for proposed opening times.

Opens: 13^th March for 6 weeks

Closes: 23^rd April 2023

How you can give your views:

· Online at https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/CSCconsultation (opens Monday)

· If you can’t go online, copies of the consultation are available at the following Shropshire Council libraries; Bayston Hill, Bridgnorth, Church Stretton, Gobowen, Library at the Lantern, Ludlow, Market

Drayton, Much Wenlock, Oswestry, Pontesbury, Shrewsbury, Wem and Whitchurch

· At Shropshire Council’s Shropshire Local sites in Ludlow and Shrewsbury

If you would like the survey in an alternative format, please emailTellUs@shropshire.gov.uk to request a copy or call 0345 678 9077 and explain any support you need to allow you to respond.

Following a successful two years, the Shropshire HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) programme is continuing in 2023, offering more opportunities for eligible children and young people to access free holiday activity during the three main school holidays.

Were thrilled to announce that existing HAF clubs which have been running across the county during the last 6 months, will be happening again and the programme has been extended to include six new areas of the county (Claverley, Much Wenlock, Cleobury Mortimer, Bishop’s Castle, Morda and Whitchurch).

Bookings for the Spring/Easter HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) Programme 2023 are now open.From 3 to 14 April 2023, eligible children and young people are invited to take part in a range of fun activities, happening at 45 venues from across the county.

The clubs offer a range of activities such as sports, arts, cooking, forest schools, den building and dance. There is something on offer for everyone. Free nutritious meals are provided at each session, as well as information on nutrition to benefit the whole family.

See the Spring/Easter promo film to get a taster of the activities on offer Spring 2023 Promo v2 - YouTube

Each year Oswestry Rural Parish Council awards grants to voluntary organisations and community groups, which in the opinion of the council is in the interests of the local community.

All applications are considered on their individual merits and grants are awarded in accordance with how the council considers funding to be of benefit to the local community.

Please see attached policy and application form for completion.

Start Date:7th February 2023

End Date:17th April 2023

Purpose:Excavate to install 370m of new 150mm sewer pipework and 7 manhole chambers - Road Closure.

Works Promoter: United Utilities Water

Works Promoter Ref:HZ70380063034-ADV0091-01

Enforcement pattern for Broomhall Lane, Oswestry:
24 hrs

You can view the closure and diversion route by clicking here: https://one.network/?tm=132044421

Start Date:19th February 2023

End Date:21st February 2023

Purpose: Road Closure - Works to rectify defective reinstatement.

Works Promoter: SP Energy Networks

Works Promoter Ref:GY0022100677642C-10

Enforcement pattern for Middleton Road, Oswestry:
All the time

You can view the closure and diversion route by clicking here: https://one.network/?tm=131944395

Dear Stakeholder

To ensure we are meeting our statutory duties under the Education Act 2006, a revised policy for assessing unsafe walking routes to school is being proposed (attached) and a consultation on this proposed policy will run until the 10^th February 2023. We do not anticipate that the revised policy will change the entitlement to free school transport for new or existing pupils and will not have any financial impact for the Council.The consultation is available to view and respond to atGet involved | Shropshire Council alternatively, you can send your commentsto tellus@shropshire.gov.uk or use the following address:

• Transport Consultation,

Feedback and Insight Team,

Shropshire Council,

Shirehall,

Abbey Foregate,

Shropshire

SY2 6ND

Once the consultation period ends all the feedback gathered will be considered and summarised in a report to Cabinet in March 2023.

Budget Consultation 

As you may be aware, the council’s budget proposals are now out for public consultation.

We’re asking for the public’s views on our budget plans which seek to make more than £50 million of savings from the Council’s budget and to bring this into balance.

Most of the savings proposed will come through a transformation and efficiency programme that will save £50.6 million in the next year, while reducing costs and protecting services as far as possible particularly those for the most vulnerable.

Ongoing impacts of COVID and broader economic conditions, particularly the effects of inflation and rising energy costs, are at the root of the budget challenge facing the council, with inflation alone having a £43 million impact on the council.

The Council hope that you will be able to help publicise the consultation within your community and encourage as many people as possible to take part..

The online survey through which people can give views on the proposals is at Budget consultation 2023/2024 | Shropshire Council

The consultation is open until 30 January 2023.

Feedback from this will then inform the final budget proposals, along with consideration of any alternative budget proposals, which will come back to the council in March.

For anyone who’d like the survey questions in an alternative format, please email TellUs@shropshire.gov.uk or call 0345 678 9077

Mobile Vaccine Bus is coming to

Walk up Service - Clinic may reach capacity before the end of the stated time

If you’re unable to attend you can check www.ShropshireTelfordAndWrekin.nhs.uk for you nearest vaccination location.

Trefonen

We’ll be at Trefonen Village Hall, SY10 9DG

on Tuesday 6th December between 9:00 and 13:00

1st Booster vaccination available for anyone 12+ Autumn Booster available for anyone eligible

Autumn booster available for those 50 and older, immunosuppressed individuals, pregnant women, and Health & Social Care staff. A minimum of 92 days since last vaccination is required.

Road Closure: Broomhall Lane, Oswestry

Start Date:7th February 2023

End Date:17th April 2023

Purpose:Excavate to install 370m of new 150mm sewer pipework and 7 manhole chambers - Road Closure.

Works Promoter: United Utilities Water

Works Promoter Ref:HZ70380063034-ADV0091-01

Enforcement pattern for Broomhall Lane, Oswestry:
24 hrs

You can view the closure and diversion route by clicking here: https://one.network/?tm=132044421

Should you have any queries regarding this closure, please call Customer Services on 0345 6789006, or contact the Street Works Team on streetworks@shropshire.gov.uk

The Parish Council wishes to remind residents to be vigilant at this time of year.  Please remember to keep your property, garages, sheds and outbuildings secure.  

If you suspect any unusual activity or notice a person's behaviour which appears to be out of the ordinary, please report this to your local Police Community Support Officer or contact the Police on 101.

Keep Oswestry Rural Parish Community Safe.

The JSNA seeks to identify current and future health and wellbeing needs in the local population and identify strategic priorities to inform commissioning of services based on those needs.

Find out more at :

https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/information-intelligence-and-insight/facts-and-figures/health-and-wellbeing/

The road will be closed from 31 October to 2 November 2022 to allow Severn Trent to renew 25mm long comm pipe.

Diversion details.

The road will be temporarily closed to enable Openreach to renew a frame and cover.

Diversion route.