VALE OF WHITE HORSE DISTRICT COUNCIL – SITUATION REPORT

Communications

If you know someone who is not getting the messages, please let us know or tell them to email us: communications@southandvale.gov.uk.

Services

As so many of our services are up and running it is now easier to give details of those where people will experience delays or disruptions, than list those that were not hugely affected.  However, with all services things will possibly take a little longer than usual given we are operating from temporary offices with fewer staff than normal, so we are still asking people to hold off getting in touch unless it is an emergency or they have a pressing issue.

We are constantly updating the website with this information so please look there for a list of the services disrupted.  The main service area affected is planning.

Planning Situation

All of planning’s IT services are now up and running, including viewing and commenting on planning applications.  We are extending the deadline for commenting on planning applications by eight days, which was the length of time our planning system was down.

We are currently predicting a two week delay with making decisions on planning applications that were already registered.  It is going to take some time for our planning officers to get back up to speed, so again our current message to residents is that it would be a great help if they held off getting in touch unless it is urgent.  We are also asking folk to refrain from submitting a new application unless it is urgent.

Salvage Operation

We have a restoration company currently salvaging what they can from the list of documents that we have identified as critical.  They should have this finished by the 25 January.  From Monday, crews will go in to see what items they can salvage.

Next Steps

This week we hope we will be able to give you more news on our temporary home.  We have been looking at sites in Abingdon and Milton Park.

Roger Cox

District Councillor

Here’s a very brief update on the situation.

Whist we have a number of services up and running as usual (see our temporary website for a full list) we’re still in the process of restoring our IT systems which means disruptions for those that rely heavily on these, like planning.

IT are working really hard to re-establish our networks and phone lines but in the meantime we’re directing people to our temporary website for the latest service information and advice and asking people to only call in an absolute emergency over the next until further notice.

Temporary Website address:

http://southandvalecouncils.wordpress.com

Right now we are planning what services we will be able to provide next week with the resources currently at our disposal.  This is clearly dependant on what IT we have in place and we’ll confirm this when we can.

Once we have our priority front-line services up and running next week, we’ll turn our attentions to establishing a medium or long term base for the councils.

Upcoming committee meetings, which are going ahead:

• There is a Vale Audit and Governance Committee meeting taking place on Thursday 22 January at the Beacon from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

Faringdon Residents will have the opportunity to discuss and comment on the first draft of the Parking Survey. The documents are available below.

Please come to the Town Meeting on 26th January at 7.30pm in the Corn Exchange and share your views.

At the meeting residents will also have the opportunity to hear about the Town Council precept plans for the coming year.

Agenda 26.1.15

Faringdon Parking Study Report First Draft 2014-12-08

Faringdon Parking Study Executive Summary and First Draft Recommendations 2014-12-08

Recommendation P&H Parking

Faringdon Town Council Offices and Tourist Information Centre will close

Wednesday 24th December at 12.30pm

ad re-open

Monday 5th January 9am

We wish all our residents a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year