Council and planning

Minutes not yet published

Agenda · Appendices

Woodcote council agreed football goal repairs, village gates work, and zebra crossing reversal

Councillors met on 16 September 2026 and approved several village works, including new wheels for the football goal and repairs to the three village gates (budget of about £2,694.40 plus VAT). They reversed the earlier decision to pursue a second zebra crossing on the Goring Road and will explore other ways to make crossings safer. Councillors also approved Christmas Carols on the Green costs and new training for the clerk.

• Decided Zebra crossing decision reversed on Goring Road. Council reversed its earlier decision to pursue a second zebra crossing on the Goring Road and will explore alternative ways of making crossings safer.
• Decided Village gates repair and refurbishment. The clerk was asked to contract Chiltern Woodcraft to repair and refurbish the three village gates, with a budget of approximately £2,694.40 plus VAT.
• Decided New wheels for Village Green football goal. New wheels for the full-sized football goal on the Village Green were approved at £184.08 plus VAT and delivery, as three wheels were broken.
• Decided Neighbourhood Plan Working Group replaces committee. The Neighbourhood Plan Committee was disbanded and a Working Group created, with spending authority of up to £500 per item from the £9,500 reserve. The Deputy Clerk's hours were also increased by 8 per week to support the plan.
• Decided Christmas Carols on the Green approved. Hire of the Pavilion (£10.25 per hour) and a budget of £100 for mulled wine and squash were approved for the carols event.
• Decided Public toilet proposals and anti-social behaviour. The clerk will obtain a formal quote for a permanent public toilet, and quotes for better CCTV to tackle anti-social behaviour and vandalism on the recreation grounds will be brought to a future meeting.
• Decided Budget review and bank account changes. Council completed its second-quarter budget review and approved moving the BT direct debit to Unity Trust and closing both Lloyds Bank accounts.
• Old Reservoir site, Greenmoor: residents' consultation concerns. Residents objected to the planned tenure mix change without public consultation. No update was given on the section 106 amendment, and the clerk will write to the planning case officer about residents' concerns.

Agenda · Appendices · Draft minutes
Summary written automatically from the draft minutes – the minutes are the official record.

Council approves Village Green CCTV, bins, broadband and Portaloo hire

Councillors met on 22 July 2026 (rescheduled from 15 July) and approved several spending and maintenance decisions. These included new covered bins for the Reading Road bus stops, a winter grit bin at the car park, broadband for the village hall, and continued hire of the village Portaloo for six months. Items discussed after the public and press were excluded have been left out.

• Decided Covered bins for new Reading Road bus stops. Councillors approved buying two covered Glasdon Topsey Royal bins for the new bus stops on the Reading Road, budget £630.72 plus installation of about £180.
• Decided Village Portaloo hire continued for six months. The hire of the village Portaloo will continue at the previously agreed rates and will be reviewed in six months, with the Clerk able to end it if anti-social behaviour or vandalism continues.
• Decided CCTV to be re-angled over Village Green. Councillors agreed to re-angle the CCTV to give better coverage of the Village Green once the roof can be safely accessed.
• Decided Broadband installed in village hall. Councillors agreed to pay up to £300 for Countryside Broadband to be installed in the village hall, separating its internet from the Parish Council office.
• Decided Winter grit bin at car park entrance. A grit bin costing £300.00 was approved for the entrance to the car park on the left, as part of winter preparedness for 2026/2027.
• Decided Hedge replanting and leaning oak tree works. Councillors agreed to buy extra hedging whips for the tiny forest project after the Recreation Ground hedge was vandalised, and to remove an overhanging branch from a leaning oak tree on Green Lane, spending up to £1000 subject to quotes.
• Decided Deep cleanse locations approved. Deep cleanse services were approved for the major junction outside the Village Hall and along the Reading Road towards the Community Centre.
• Village Hall roof and gate renovation. An update on the Village Hall roof was received. A quote for renovating the white entrance gates on Goring Road and Red Lane was deferred because the updated quote had not arrived.

Agenda · Appendices · Minutes
Summary written automatically – the minutes are the official record.

Council approves Village Hall roof contractor and £83,456 budget

At its June 2026 meeting, the parish council agreed to hire a contractor for the Village Hall replacement roof, with a budget of £83,456 (no VAT). It also agreed to buy 5-a-side football goals for £2,311.22, helped by £1,000 in grant money from South Oxfordshire District Council. Councillors chose not to apply for Tidmore Lane as a Quiet Lane, and approved hiring office space in the Community Centre while the Village Hall is closed.

• Decided Village Hall replacement roof contractor and budget approved. Councillors appointed GS Roofing with a budget of £83,456 (no VAT), agreed 8 extra hours per week for the Clerk to manage the project, approved up to £2,000 for a structural survey, and set aside two reserve funds: £8,345 for contingency and £5,000 for any works arising from the survey.
• Decided 5-a-side football goals purchase approved. Councillors approved buying the goals from Mark Harrod for a budget of £2,311.22, noting that £1,000 in grant money has been received from South Oxfordshire District Council towards the project.
• Decided Tidmore Lane not proposed as a Quiet Lane. Councillors agreed not to apply for Tidmore Lane to become a Quiet Lane, and to keep pressing for a 20mph limit as previously agreed with Oxfordshire County Council.
• Decided Office space hired in Community Centre this summer. While the Village Hall is closed this summer, councillors agreed to hire a room in the Community Centre for open office hours.
• Decided Village Appraisal not run by the parish council. The council does not have the resources, time or money to run a Village Appraisal now, so it would not take one forward, though it has no objection to one being carried out by others.
• Decided Payments approved for May and June 2026. Councillors approved the payment lists for May 2026 (£13,054.70 total) and June 2026 (£10,829.24 total), and noted receipts of £619.69 for May.
• Decided Finance governance documents approved. Councillors approved a set of finance documents, including the Statement of Internal Controls, Expenses Policy, Grants Policy and Investments Strategy and Reserve Policy.
• Tree works on the recreation ground to be quoted. Following a tree survey, the clerk will seek quotes to remove a damaged and unsafe Common Horse Chestnut (T58), to be replanted with a suitable alternative, and to reduce the height and canopy of a large Lime tree (T27) by about 2–3 metres near the Primary School and playground.

Agenda · Appendices · Appendices · Minutes
Summary written automatically – the minutes are the official record.

Annual meeting: new chair, bins, Old Reservoir housing response, accounts approved

The Annual Council Meeting elected a new Chair and Vice-Chair, reappointed committees and approved the annual governance paperwork and 2025/2026 accounts. Councillors also agreed to buy four new play area bins (budget up to £3,000), and to ask for affordable housing as part of the Old Reservoir site proposal. No public or confidential items were excluded from the summary beyond what is listed in the minutes.

• Decided New Chair and Vice-Chair elected. A councillor was elected Chair and another councillor was elected Vice-Chair, both unanimously.
• Decided Four new play area bins approved. Four recycled plastic bins and fixings were approved for the play area, with up to £3,000 for installation, and three existing bins are to be moved to the village green.
• Decided Old Reservoir site housing response. The Clerk was asked to respond to the Salvation Army Housing Association's plan for 100% social housing at the Old Reservoir site, asking for at least some affordable housing, as at Littlemore.
• Decided Annual accounts and governance statements approved. The 2025/2026 accounts, the annual governance statement and the accounting statements were approved, and the public inspection period was set for 3 June to 14 July 2026. The Parish Council's total receipts for the year were £108,019 and the balance carried forward was £398,366.
• Decided Community Infrastructure Levy report approved. The 2025/2026 Community Infrastructure Levy report was approved and sent to South Oxfordshire District Council, showing £34,042.24 received and £99,326.88 spent.
• Decided Internal auditor appointed for 2026/2027. An internal auditor was appointed for a fixed fee of £275.
• Temporary public toilet feedback. Feedback on the temporary village green toilet was described as universally good, with a request for a permanent toilet; two incidents of anti-social behaviour have been reported.
• Village Hall roof tendering on schedule. The Clerk reported that tendering for the Village Hall roof is proceeding as scheduled, with two preferred contractors stating they will tender.

Agenda · Appendices · Minutes
Summary written automatically – the minutes are the official record.

Parish approves village hall roof tender, tree watering budget and payments

The council met on 15 April 2026 and approved the tender pack for the village hall roof, with a sum earmarked for contingencies once tenders arrive. It agreed a tree watering budget for 2026 and a reply to the Salvation Army Housing Association about the Old Reservoir site. The minutes are headed 20 May 2026 at the top of each page, which is the date of the document's sign-off rather than the meeting.

• Decided Salvation Army housing approach at Old Reservoir site. Councillors agreed a reply to the Salvation Army Housing Association saying the proposal is in contravention of the neighbourhood plan (NP2), that applications will be judged on their merits, and that the council is not a planning body and cannot give advice.
• Decided Village hall roof tender pack approved. The tender pack was approved with extra requirements, including a structural survey of any proposed solution and ventilation in the eaves, and a sum was earmarked for contingencies once tenders are received.
• Decided Tree watering budget for 2026. A budget was approved for watering the new Wayside Green orchard weekly and other trees fortnightly from April to September, with changes made for dry or wet weather, based on set rainfall and temperature data.
• Decided Future tree planting approach. Councillors agreed to post a public message in the Woodcote Correspondent discouraging tree planting without prior consultation with the parish council.
• Decided Payments and grant for Woodcote Library. Councillors approved a £2,918 grant to Woodcote Library for a Saturday morning assistant, and approved the April 2026 payment list totalling £9,657.89. The March 2026 payment list, totalling £146,600.98, was also approved.
• Decided Community Infrastructure Levy and pension payments. Councillors agreed to receive Community Infrastructure Levy payments this financial year and to pay NEST pension contributions by Direct Debit.
• Portable toilet installed on Village Green. The portable toilet has been installed for three months on a rolling contract, serviced twice a week and left unlocked.
• Matters for future discussion. Items for later include a possible facilities role combining litter picking, grounds and handyman work, an unmade path along the Langtree boundary, and funding for five-a-side football goals.

Agenda · Appendices · Minutes
Summary written automatically – the minutes are the official record.

Village hall flat roof replacement approved; EV hub pilot withdrawn

Councillors approved the scope of work for replacing the flat roof at Woodcote Village Hall, which has been leaking, and agreed to prepare a tender pack by 17 April 2026. They also chose to withdraw from the Oxfordshire County Council Community EV Hub pilot scheme. The minutes are headed 15 April 2026 on the document, but the meeting itself was held on 31 March 2026.

• Decided Village hall flat roof replacement scope approved. Councillors approved the scope of works for replacing the leaking flat roof with a high-performance membrane, new non-combustible insulation and boarding, with the work planned for August 2026.
• Decided Tender pack to be prepared for roof works. The clerk, supported by two councillors, will prepare the tender pack by 17 April, including a request for extra day rates and an expectation that any asbestos found is removed lawfully.
• Decided Up to £100 approved for contract template. Councillors approved spending up to £100.00 on a Minor Works Contract template from JCT for the roof project.
• Decided Withdrawal from Community EV Hub pilot. The council agreed unanimously to withdraw from the Oxfordshire County Council Community EV Hub pilot scheme, based on the information available so far.
• Decided Litter picking service gap to be covered. With no suitable applicants for the village litter picker post, the council agreed to seek quotes from its current bin and dog bin clearance provider for a slimmed-down litter picking service until a candidate is found.
• Previous meeting minutes deferred. The minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2026 were not signed off because the name on the documents was incorrect; they will be brought to the next meeting.

Agenda · Appendices · Minutes
Summary written automatically – the minutes are the official record.

Minutes published

Agenda · Appendices · Minutes

4 Sandford Close, Woodcote

Proposal for single storey front porch

Ref

P26/S3563/HH · Other Development

Received

Fri 14 Aug 2026

Comments

Until Mon 9 Nov 2026

The Old Farmhouse, Track From Ipsden Heath To Homer Farm, Ipsden

To erect a greenhouse measuring 3.7m by 2.46m with porch 1.49m by 0.79m. Height 1.8m and height to ridge 2.85m

Ref

P26/S4145/HH · Other Development

Received

Mon 12 Oct 2026

Comments

Until Fri 13 Nov 2026

25 Whitehouse Road, Woodcote

Change of use of 25 Whitehouse Road, Woodcote, from residential dwelling (Class C3) to a children's home (Class C2) accommodating up to three children aged 11 to 17, with 24-hour residential care provision.

Ref

P26/S4638/FUL · Other Development

Received

Mon 12 Oct 2026

Comments

Until Wed 18 Nov 2026

Land at Wood Lane, Woodcote

The erection of a self-build dwelling, with associated infrastructure and works including parking, access and landscaping. The proposals also include an amended parking area for the adjacent property Millstone.

Ref

P26/S4880/FUL · Minor Development

Received

Wed 21 Oct 2026

Comments

Until Mon 23 Nov 2026

3 Birchen Close, Woodcote

New front porch. (Schedule 1 application under the 2026 Regulations)

Ref

P26/S5089/HH · Other Development

Received

Fri 30 Oct 2026

Comments

Until Mon 7 Dec 2026

Red Lane Lay-by on the A4074, Woodcote

Certificate of Lawfulness Proposed for the use of land stationing a mobile catering vehicle to provide hot food and beverages primarily for consumption off the premises.

Ref

P26/S4660/LDP · Other Development

Received

Mon 12 Oct 2026

Montana, Goring Road, Goring Heath

Render the existing property, new doors and windows, alter the walls and roof to the existing rear extension, new rooflights, new rear dormers and new patio.

Ref

P26/S4209/HH · Other Development

Received

Tue 29 Sep 2026

Comments

Until Fri 30 Oct 2026

Sports Pavilion, Road Running Ne From The Rectory To Whitehall Lane, Checkendon

Reconstruction and extension of existing Sports Pavilion building.

Ref

P26/S3979/FUL · Minor Development

Received

Thu 17 Sep 2026

Comments

Until Mon 19 Oct 2026

Newlands, Goring Heath Road, Whitchurch Hill

The construction of a first-floor extension over the rear portion of the existing bungalow, incorporating the raising of the existing roof ridge by approximately 2.6m. Erection of a single-storey side extension, an extension to the existing porch, the installation of five conservation-style rooflights, alterations to window proportions, external cladding, and associated internal alterations. Erection of a single-storey, flat-roofed garden room to provide classroom accommodation.

Ref

P26/S4097/HH · Other Development

Received

Mon 14 Sep 2026

Comments

Until Thu 22 Oct 2026

Eastfield House, Pot Kiln Lane, Goring Heath, Woodcote

First floor rear extensions & ground floor terrace roof extension. Addition of a first floor bay window to the rear

Ref

P26/S3573/HH · Other Development

Received

Mon 17 Aug 2026

Comments

Until Tue 22 Sep 2026

Broad Oak, Checkendon

Replacement of existing domestic stable building with a larger domestic stable building incorporating a study and annexe bedroom, all ancillary to the house.

Ref

P26/S3421/HH · Other Development

Received

Fri 7 Aug 2026

Comments

Until Wed 16 Sep 2026

Querns, Collins End, Goring Heath

Single storey infill extension and internal layout alterations, which include re-modelling of the kitchen. External alterations to existing barn. Internal alteration which include forming an opening in the dividing wall between Querns Cottage and the barn. External works to include a relocated entrance, driveway, swimming pool, and new garden store.

Ref

P26/S3179/HH · Other Development

Received

Fri 24 Jul 2026

Comments

Until Sat 12 Sep 2026

Querns, Collins End, Goring Heath

Single storey infill extension and internal layout alterations, which include re-modelling of the kitchen. External alterations to existing barn. Internal alteration which include forming an opening in the dividing wall between Querns Cottage and the barn. External works to include a relocated entrance, driveway, swimming pool, and new garden store.

Ref

P26/S3180/LB · Other Development

Received

Fri 24 Jul 2026

Comments

Until Sat 12 Sep 2026

Woodland (Tilly's Wood) situated northwest of Deadmans' Lane & southwest of the A4074, Goring Heath

Certificate of lawfulness to regularise hut and associated structures

Ref

P26/S1489/LDE · Other Development

Received

Thu 4 Jun 2026

Comments

Until Wed 8 Jul 2026

Fisher's Farm, Whitehall Lane, Checkendon

Demolition of the existing stable block and redevelopment of the site to provide one self-build family dwelling with associated parking, landscaping and ancillary works.

Ref

P26/S2839/FUL · Minor Development

Received

Wed 5 Aug 2026

Decision

Planning Permission is Granted, Thu 15 Oct 2026

The Thatched Cottage, Bozedown Drive, Whitchurch Hill, Goring Heath

Demolition of lean-to structure and replacement with oak framed extension. Structural and non-structural alterations and repairs to existing cottage.

Ref

P26/S2563/HH · Other Development

Received

Tue 7 Jul 2026

Decision

Planning Permission is Granted, Wed 14 Oct 2026

The Thatched Cottage, Bozedown Drive, Whitchurch Hill, Goring Heath

Demolition of lean-to structure and replacement with oak framed extension. Structural and non-structural alterations and repairs to existing cottage (amended plans and additional information received 4 September 2026)

Ref

P26/S2564/LB · Other Development

Received

Tue 7 Jul 2026

Decision

Listed Building Consent is Granted, Wed 14 Oct 2026

The Old Barn, Exlade Street, Checkendon

Certificate of lawfulness for the installation of solar panels on the roof of an existing detached garage.

Ref

P26/S3626/LDP · Other Development

Received

Thu 27 Aug 2026

Decision

Refusal of Certificate of Lawful Use or Development, Tue 13 Oct 2026

Highlands House, Reading Road, Woodcote

Single storey extension to the rear of the property following demolition of previous small single storey extension.

Ref

P26/S3575/HH · Other Development

Received

Mon 17 Aug 2026

Decision

Planning Permission is Granted, Fri 2 Oct 2026

Plumtree Cottage, Whitehall Lane, Checkendon

Proposed installation of four roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) panels to the front (road-facing) and four panels on rear roof slopes, and an external battery storage unit mounted to a side wall behind the side garden gate.

Ref

P26/S2662/LDP · Other Development

Received

Mon 10 Aug 2026

Decision

Certificate of Lawful Use or Development is Granted, Fri 2 Oct 2026

Glanford, Goring Road, Woodcote

Proposed first floor extensions and internal alterations.

Ref

P26/S3322/HH · Other Development

Received

Mon 3 Aug 2026

Decision

Planning Permission is Granted, Fri 2 Oct 2026

2 Neals Farm Cottages, Neals Lane, Wyfold, Checkendon

Extension and alterations to existing workshop and home office.

Ref

P26/S2455/FUL · Minor Development

Received

Mon 10 Aug 2026

Decision

Planning Permission is Granted, Wed 30 Sep 2026

Meadswood, Braziers Lane, Ipsden

Solar panel array to provide renewable energy for the house. (As amended by plan received 28 August 2026 to reposition the array to the south of the site).

Ref

P26/S2511/HH · Other Development

Received

Mon 22 Jun 2026

Decision

Planning Permission is Granted, Wed 30 Sep 2026