December 13

Didcot Diary Issue 11 December 2013

Welcome Home and Medals Parade Christmas opening hours

Parks and Gardens

Contents

2

Footpath Wardens

2

Welcome Home and Medal Parade

3

Storm Damage

3

Christmas Opening Hours

4

School Admissions

5

U3A meeting

5

Choral Concert

5

Parks and Gardens

6&7

Allotments

8

Christmas Street Fair

8

Footpath Wardens

8

Frequently Asked Questions

9

Remembrance Parade and Service

9

Advice from CAB

10

Carol Service

11

By-election Result

11

Didcot Town Fayre

11

Business and Community Awards

11

Mayor’s Charity Gig

11

Civic Ball

12

Didcot Town Council Awards Evening

12

Tea Dances

12

NHS Right First Time Advice

13

Grant Aid

13

Civic Hall

14

What’s on at the Civic Hall

15

Welcome to the latest issue of the Didcot Diary. A lot has happened since the last issue including the Welcome Home and Medal Parade and the Remembrance Parade and Service.

This summer many residents have commented on the fantastic display of sunflowers in the beds outside the Civic Hall but these have now been replaced with winter bedding which should provide colour through to the Spring.

This year sees the 20th anniversary of the Christmas Street Fair. Each year the Christmas lights are switched on for the first time on the night of the street fair.

The Christmas lights are provided by the Council and this year £16,000 has been spent to help make the display better than ever with some new motifs, including two angels and a teddy bear, and LED cladding of the festoons.

The Town Council office will be closed for Christmas from 12 noon on Christmas Eve until 8.45am on Tuesday 2nd January 2014.

Other useful Christmas opening times can be found on page 4.

This will be the last issue of the Didcot Diary for 2013 so all the staff and members of Didcot Town Council, wish you a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

If you have any comments or suggestions for future issues of the Didcot Diary please contact us on 01235 812637 or council@didcot.gov.uk.

Welcome Home and Medal Parade On Friday 4th October 2013 Didcot welcomed home personnel from the EOD and Search Task Force after a six month tour in Afghanistan, and 11 EOD Regiment RLC also exercised their right to march and parade through the town. The salute was taken by the Princess Royal.

A medal parade took place at the Civic Hall where medals were presented by the Princess Royal and the Mayor of Didcot, Councillor Axel Macdonald.

Photos Crown Copyright

Pictured left is the Mayor presenting Lt Colonel D A Reyland RLD with an engraved salver to mark the occasion.

Storm damage The storms that swept across south east England on the 27th and 28th October left some damage in it’s wake.

Damaged trees and fallen branches were reported all across town and the gardeners were busy clearing up and making areas safe as quickly as possible.

Pictured right is gardener Steve Andrews with a Sycamore tree that had suffered from a split trunk and damaged limbs on Stubbings Land.

Council staff cleared as much debris as they could and bigger jobs were contracted to specialists so potential danger and inconvenience to residents were cleared as quickly as possible.

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Christmas Opening Hours DIDCOT TOWN COUNCIL The Council office will be closed from 12 noon on Tuesday 24 th December until 8.45am on Thursday 2nd January 2014.

All emails and phone messages will be answered as soon as possible on our return.

In the event of an emergency please contact the South Oxfordshire District Council out of hours service on 01491 824033.

The non-emergency police number is 101.

CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU Monday 23rd December 10am to 4pm Tuesday 24th December 10am to 1pm Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th December CLOSED Friday 27th December 10am to 1pm Monday 30th December 10am to 1pm Tuesday 31st December (telephone only ) 10am to 4pm Wednesday 1st January CLOSED OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL RECYCLING CENTRES Monday 23rd December 8am to 5pm Tuesday 24th December 8am to 3pm Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th December CLOSED Friday 27th, Saturday 28th, Sunday 29th and Monday 30th December 8am to 5pm Tuesday 31st December 8am to 3pm Wednesday 1st January – CLOSED WILLOWBROOK LEISURE CENTRE Tuesday 24th December 9am to 2pm Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th December CLOSED Friday 27th December 10am to 4pm Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th December 10am to 5pm Monday 30th December 10am to 4pm Tuesday 31st December CLOSED Wednesday 1st January CLOSED

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If you have a child aged 3 or 4 years the Admissions Team at the Oxfordshire County Council have advised that now is the time to be applying for a place at primary school for them.

The closing date for applications is 15th January 2014.

You can apply on line or download a form at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/admissions and forms are also available at local schools.

A reference booklet called “Starting School” has been published on the County Council website and copies are available in Children’s Centres, libraries and schools.

If you would like more information about applying for a Primary school place for your child the Admissions Team can be contacted by calling 01865 815175 or emailing admissions.schools@oxfordshire.gov.uk .

The next meeting of the University of the Third Age will be held in the Civic Hall on Tuesday 17th December at 2pm.

The festive season will be celebrated with fantastic Christmas Entertainment including a quiz.

The Didcot & District U3A exists to provide educational and leisure activities at minimal cost.

It draws upon the knowledge, experience, skills and enthusiasms of its members to organise interest groups for its members. With over 20 interest groups including wine appreciation, dancing, science & maths, play reading, creative writing, walking, knitting, bridge, crafts, books, poetry, singing, badminton, photography and 5 languages, there’s something for everyone!

Choral Concert Mr Andrew Walker of St Birinus School organised a choral concert of Karl Jenkins’ the armed man, which took place at the Didcot Leisure Centre on Saturday 9th November at 7.30pm. The event follows on from the success of a similar concert held in 2012 when Poulenc’s Gloria and other pieces associated with HM the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee were performed by the St Birinus School Choir.

Didcot born prize-winning singer Elsa Walker was the soprano soloist and local St Birinus student Mark Butler performed a trombone concerto by Ferdinand David.

The 2012 event was supported by the Council by a grant of £400.

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Parks and Gardens New member of the team Jed Allen pictured left joined the gardening team in September as an apprentice gardener and he is already proving to be a valuable member of the team.

Jed will be studying for a NVQ level 1 and 2 in horticulture with the Abingdon and Witney College.

Broadway Flower Beds During the Summer many residents have asked about the flowerbeds along Broadway. The hardy annuals are grown from seed and have provided a lasting show of bloom late into the season.

The mix of Sunflowers have been very popular and A similar show can be grown in domestic gardens very easily. Simply make a small hole in the ground with your index finger and sow 1 seed per hole in late April when the soil has warmed up.

The dwarf variety we used is called Mezzulah, other varieties included the large double head Teddy Bear type, the very dark chocolate coloured Sunflower is Velvet Queen.

The taller varieties are good for the back of the border and can be sown in rows. Growing Sunflowers is an excellent way to get children started in gardening as they are easy to handle, sow and grow. The Autumn seed heads are a good source of food for garden birds in the winter months ahead.

Early October was mild and sunny and as a result we all enjoyed the extended flowering season; but Autumn is here now, the leaves are starting to change colour and all the summer flowers have to be changed over to the winter bedding.

This year the winter bedding will be predominately winter flowering pansies that do well despite the season’s low temperatures and Polyanthus that will give a good show in the Spring and can be left in the ground for a couple of years.

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Civic Hall New this year were the Geranium towers at the Civic Hall entrance – they bloomed throughout the summer and gave a welcome to all visitors to the Civic Hall.

The patio adjoining the Jubilee Garden had new planters this year and they now have Violas and Cyclamen replacing the summer mix of small shrubs and bedding, pictured left.

Cemetery Last year an overgrown hedge was removed between the cemetery and the back gardens of Lynmouth Road because it was infested with bramble. To fill the gap it is planned that a row of flowering trees will be planted along the cemetery boundary with Lynmouth Road. The trees will be medium sized to give privacy, colour and shade.

Edmonds Park Sports Courts The sports courts at Edmonds Park were refurbished earlier this year. Work included a new playing surface, a new fence, marking for netball and basket ball courts in addition to the tennis courts that were already in place.

This work has opened up the courts for use by more residents and can be seen in use most days.

The refurbishment was carried out using S106 money and a grant from the South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC).

The courts were formally opened on Monday 28th October.

Pictured left is the Mayor, Councillor Axel Macdonald with the Chairman of SODC, Councillor Dorothy Brown.

The Mayor said: “The newly laid courts will be another boost to the town's leisure facilities and help our thriving netball, tennis and basketball clubs. It is important that the town continues to add to its leisure facilities as the town grows and those leisure facilities are located in areas that town folk have good access to.”

Pictured above are members of the Didcot Netball Club practicing on the courts 7

Allotments This is the time of year when all the hard work carried out on allotments throughout the year really pays off as crops of all kinds are harvested.

If you would like to try your hand at growing your own fruit and vegetables on an allotment please contact Sue Atkins on 01235 812637 or satkins@didcot.gov.uk to join the waiting list for a plot. The current waiting lists are:

Broadway

5

Cockcroft Road

2

Mereland Road

3

New Road

5

Wantage Road

5

This is the time of year when we usually announce the winners of the best kept allotments for 2013 at the Didcot Town Council awards evening. This year the awards evening has been moved to Spring 2014 when the nights will be lighter and hopefully, warmer. The actual date will be announced in the near future.

The 2014 Didcot Town Fayre will take place on Saturday 19th July. This year the produce award was presented to Mereland Road site for their colourful display of good quality produce, pictured right. The produce show will be part of next year’s event so if you think your allotment site can produce a better display of produce please speak to your site representative for more information or contact Karen Dodd on 01235 750035 or kdodd@didcot.gov.uk.

Christmas Street Fair

Footpath Wardens

The 2013 Christmas Street Fair took place on Thursday 28th November.

It was recently decided to implement a scheme of footpath wardens in town. The wardens will walk local footpaths on a regular basis and report any issues such as overgrown vegetation or litter to the Oxfordshire County Council for action.

There was lots to see and do, with live music in the Orchard Centre. The headline act was Abi Phillips from Hollyoaks and she was supported by local bands.

This year the Civic Hall was open with some craft stalls inside.

The Christmas lights were turned on for first time this year at the start of the evening and it was the perfect opportunity to see the new lights and festoons that have been funded by the Council.

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This is an opportunity to help make a difference to your neighbourhood so if you enjoy walking in the fresh air and would like to help us keep our town looking it best please contact us on council@didcot.gov.uk or 01235 812637 for more information.

Information Centre

In the Information Centre we have noticed that some questions tend to get asked more often than others. In this section we aim to provide answers to some recurring issues.

Q. I understand that some of the buses are changing on 8 th December 2013. Do you know what they are?

A. There will be a change to the X2 - this will now run from Oxford all the way through to Wallingford.

The X36 that currently goes to Wallingford will be withdrawn from that date.

There will be a new route-X1/X32-that will run from Oxford through to Wantage at 30 minute intervals. This service will provide a service between Didcot, Harwell Campus and Wantage and will replace the current 32 services.

There will be a new X33/X34 bus that will provide a fast non-stop service between Oxford and Harwell Campus.

Timetables can be picked up from the Information Centre or downloaded from the Thames Travel website.

With the new services there will now be up to three buses an hour travelling between Oxford and Didcot.

Q. Will there be a pantomime at the Civic Hall this year?

A. Oh yes there will! Dates are Friday 17th and Saturday 18th January 2014. There will be one performance on the Friday night at 7.30pm and three on the Saturday at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £8 and £5 for concessions.

Q. Will there be a Town Carol Concert this year at the Civic Hall?

A. Not this year-it will be held at Didcot Girls’ School instead. The service will take place on Wednesday 11th December starting at 7.15pm.

Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service This year’s parade took place on Sunday 10th November. The parade started from Edinburgh Drive car park and gathered at the memorial in the Garden of Remembrance at 3pm for a service of remembrance and the laying of wreathes.

The parade was led by the Oxford Caledonian Pipes and Drums and musical accompaniment for the hymns was provided by the Abbey Brass band

I’m a homeowner, and I’ve been looking for ways to cut my energy bills. I’ve just received a leaflet about the Green Deal - is there anything I should know before I decide whether to sign up?

The Green Deal is a new Government scheme to help with energy saving improvements to your home such as loft insulation, double glazing and solar panels. The scheme lets you make these improvements by taking out a loan which is repaid through the savings on your energy bills. Like any credit arrangement, the Green Deal is a serious financial commitment, so you need to think carefully about whether it’s right for you.

The loan is attached to properties, not people, so if you move house then repayments will pass to the next owner or tenant so you must let them know that loan is attached to the property before they agree to buy.

The scheme is designed so that savings always outstrip repayments. But this isn’t a guarantee, so taking out a Green Deal loan may mean that your bills increase. If you’re on an electricity meter repayments will be taken off your credit in small amounts several times a day, so you may find that your credit is used up faster.

If you decide to go ahead, the first step is an assessment of your home, which you often have to pay for. Green Deal assessors and providers must be officially accredited – you can check by looking at the central register at gdorb.decc.gov.uk/consumersearch.

If you decide to go ahead after your assessment, there is a seven-day cooling off period . If you change your mind during the cooling off period, you won’t have to pay a cancellation fee, although you are likely to have to pay some of the assessment cost if work has been carried out before you cancel. Green Deal loans are covered by the Consumer Credit Act, which gives you important rights. If you have a complaint, you should contact your provider. If they can’t sort out your problem, you can contact the Energy or Financial Services Ombudsman.

If you can’t save money through the Green Deal, you may be able to get extra financial help under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) for energy saving improvements to your home, including solid wall insulation and cavity wall insulation.

Free, confidential, independent advice from your local Citizens Advice Bureau. See www.adviceguide.org.uk or your local phone book for contact details.

Advice about the Green Deal, the Energy Company Obligation and other ways to get help to save energy in your home from the Energy Savings Advice Service on 0300 123 1234 .

Further information is also available from Didcot CAB at Dales, 9-15 High Street, Didcot OX11 8EQ or 08444 111 444.

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Town Carol Service The Town Carol Service will take place in the Cockcroft Hall at Didcot Girls’ School on Wednesday 11th December at 7.15pm.

This is your opportunity to hear the Mayor, Councillor Axel Macdonald, singing Good King Wenceslas and maybe join him in the chorus.

All Saints Ward By-Election Results A by-election took place in All Saints Ward on Thursday 17th October and Mr John Ord was elected.

Didcot Town Fayre The 2014 Didcot Town Fayre will take place in Edmonds Park on Saturday 19th July, starting at 12noon. There will be the same mix of side stalls, entertainment and performances from local groups and clubs as before but this time it is hoped to take the fun into the early evening with live music from local groups.

There will be a craft tent, baking competition, food and drink on sale and a produce show put on by local allotment holders.

If you would like to take part in the Fayre in some way or if you would like more information please contact Karen Dodd on 01235 750035 or kdodd@didcot.go.uk.

If not just make a note in your diary to come along and enjoy an afternoon of fun in the park.

Business and Community Awards It was reported in the October issue of the Didcot Diary the outdoor staff had been nominated to receive a Business and Community Award for the work they do in Edmonds Park.

Members of the team attended the awards evening on Saturday 19 th October but they were not selected to receive an award. The Outdoor Services Manager said that it was an honour to be nominated and that the team appreciated the recognition of the work they do.

Mayors Charity Gig took place in the Conservative Club on Friday 25th October. Live music was provided by the Crimps and a disco by Richard Polley. The Mayor, Councillor Axel Macdonald said : “The night was a great success and special thanks go to the

Conservative Club, the band and DJ who all contributed their resources for free. Just under £400 was raised and this will be shared between the Felix Fund and Balsam Family Project.”

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Civic Ball The 2014 Civic Ball will take place in the Civic Hall, on Friday 28th February starting at 7pm.

Tickets are competitively price and include a delicious five course dinner and dancing to the Limitations.

For more information or to purchase a ticket please contact Sue Atkins on council@didcot.gov.uk or 01235 812637 or call into the Information Centre in the Civic Hall in Britwell Road.

Didcot Town Council Awards Evening The Didcot Town Council Awards Evening is usually held in November or December each year. The awards evening is where prizes are awarded for the best kept allotments, the work of grant aid recipients is recognised and the evening culminates in the presentation of the John Eldridge Award for voluntary service.

Following feedback received it has been decided to postpone this years event until early in 2014 when it is hoped that the lighter, warmer evenings will enable more people to attend.

If you would like to make a nomination for the John Eldridge award this can be done at any time by contacting us on council@didcot.gov.uk or calling 01235 812637 for a nomination form. The criteria for being nominated is that: The nominee must be based in Didcot or their work is for the benefit of the people of the town and they can’t be paid for doing it.

Tea Dance If you love to dance, whether it’s ballroom, Latin American or Popular Sequence you’ll love the new tea dances that take place in the Civic Hall . The tea dances take place every third Thursday of the month between 2.00pm and 4.30pm. Tickets cost just £3 each and include refreshments so why not brush off your dancing shoes and join in the fun.

The next dance will take place on Thursday 19th December.

If you would to know more please give contact the Civic Hall On 01235 512436 or civichall@didcot.gov.uk.

Music is provided by Vintage Sounds.

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The Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group is launching a Choose Well campaign to ensure you have all the information you need to choose the right health services should you become ill.

Choose Well means knowing about the different health services available and choosing the best one for your illness or injury. A&E and 999 are for serious or critical conditions or life threatening emergencies only. There are many different options available. Choosing Well will help to ensure that the right NHS care is available when you need it.

By choosing well:  You get the right care, first time  You will often be treated more quickly than at A&E  It helps free up the emergency departments to treat people with life threatening conditions.

There are lots of different ways people can access the right NHS service and make sure they get the right treatment, at the right time and a place that is convenient for them.

For more information please visit NHS Choices – www.nhs.uk Advice from the NHS is that in an emergency (eg serious injury, chest pain, loss of consciousness or suspected stroke), phone 999.

Grant Aid Didcot is fortunate in having a wide variety of community groups and charities that contribute to the life of the town. The hard work carried out by an army of volunteers helps to make our town a better place to live. Grant Aid is used to support organisations and individuals who work for the benefit of the people of Didcot, and for the Council’s own arts and entertainment projects. Some of the group’s who have received Grant Aid in 2013 include:  The Didcot Library  The Didcot Volunteer Centre  The Oxfordshire Play Association  2410 Didcot Squadron ATC welfare fund  Vitalise  Didcot Arts and Community Association  Didcot Twinning Association  The Didcot Devils Basketball Club  The Royal British Legion  The South and Vale Carers  Didcot TRAIN  Didcot Good Neighbours scheme If you or your organisation would like to apply for Grant Aid more information and an application form is available on our website www.didcot.gov.uk or you can call 01235 812637 or email council@didcot.gov.uk.

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Didcot Civic Hall prides itself in delivering outstanding

can

events, within budget, and with that personal touch that gives it the edge over other conference and hire venues…………. with the versatility and creativity experience of the team we help organise a conference or wedding, bringing together traditional or alternate ideas to create dramatic impact and lasting memories.

Set in the heart of Didcot, with a varied entertainment programme; it's also an ideal location for hosting wedding ceremonies, receptions, dinners and parties. With a choice of newly refurbished function rooms and Main Hall to choose from, we're here to help make your special event one to remember.

2013 has been an outstanding year for the centre seeing the growth of its Clubs and Societies and companies using our conference/meeting rooms as well as public consultations.

As well as all this we hosted successful performances from live bands, theatre performances and a murder mystery event. Most recently was the home coming parade for the soldiers whilst hosting HRH the Princess Royal.

We will see out the rest of the year with more live performances each month as well as a visit from Father Christmas during the first weekend of December.

Business Package – the requirement of every business is carefully assessed before devising a solution that meets budgets and exceeds expectations of the delegates; whether it’s a meeting room for 2, or a hall to seat 200 delegates. A full range of business support is on offer from photocopying to projectors.

Supporting Local Clubs and Societies – a full list of clubs and societies who meet in the hall is available as well as events running throughout the year that are organised by them. With such a variety there is sure to be something of interest for everyone.

Catering - we can provide catering services for events of all sizes, from tea and coffee to a buffet lunch or full sit down served dinners.

Weddings – we are now fully licensened for weddings and civil partnerships so if you are looking for a venue for your special day we have the facilities to help make your dreams come true; and outside there is the Diamond Jubilee Garden which is the perfect backdrop for photos.

New for 2014 A children’s Birthday package is being launched…………………..watch this space for the update, or pop in to find out more.

Call us now to arrange an informal visit, or to take the first steps planning your event on 01235 512436 or email civichall@didcot.gov.uk See page 15 For more information about events in the Civic Hall in the next few weeks.

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What’s on at the Civic Hall

Regular Events Music and Movement for pre-school age Children, every Thursday from 10.15am. Term time only.

Pilates, every Thursday (except the first of the month) At 6.30pm.

Ceroc Modern Jive Dance, every Thursday from 8pm.

Experts are on hand to guide you through the moves.

Didcot Ladies Afternoon Group, 2.15pm every third Wednesday of the month.

Yoga, every Tuesday at 10am and 6pm.

Women’s Institute Evening Group, 8pm every third Wednesday of the month.

Zumba, every Tuesday at 7pm.

For more information about any event in the Civic Hall or about hiring the hall please contact the Civic Hall Management team on 01235 512436 or civichall@didcot.gov.uk.

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Didcot Town Council All Saints Ward Annie Birchall Nick Hards Margaret Turner Robert Bulman John Ord

07788 645989 01235 510146 01235 812958 07533254711

c/o Didcot Town Council 184 Abingdon Road 18 Bosleys Orchard 61 Oxford Crescent 4 Dunnock End

OX11 9BP OX11 7NY OX11 7AL OX11 6AD

am.birchall@ntlworld.com nickjhards@aol.com maggieann.turner@talktalk.net

07771594368 01235 511363 07531 025403 01235 519061 01235 819799 01235 510810

180 Abingdon Road 106 Wessex Road 11 Haydon Road 19 Ouse Close 15 Nunney Brook

OX11 9BP OX11 7SU OX11 7JB OX11 7FE OX11 7FW

Tony.harbour@southandvale.gov.uk nevhar@aol.com chris.harrison.didcot@mail.com rogerhawlor@yahoo.com.uk philhayward@live.co.uk bill.service@hotmail.co.uk

07957 287799 01235 811806 07425 176404 01235 211754 01235 812181

1 East Street 1 Loyd Road 56 Campion Hall Drive 6 East Street 130 Wantage Road

OX11 8EJ OX11 8JX OX11 9RN OX11 8EJ OX11 0AJ

david.rouane@btinternet.com bcooper@ntlworld.com councilloraxel@gmail.com millliways@ntlworld.com scott@wilgrove.net

01235 816496 01235 510146 01235 212102 01235 811596 01235 210242

15 Evenlode Drive 184 Abingdon Road 19 Collingwood Avenue 195 Broadway 63 Norreys Road

OX11 7XG OX11 9BP OX11 0AL OX11 8RU OX11 0AW

mldaviesbb@btinternet.com eleanorhards@aol.com

John_ord1@hotmail.co.uk

Ladygrove Ward Tony Harbour Neville Harris Chris Harrison Roger Hawlor Phil Hayward Bill Service

Northbourne Ward David Rouane Bernard Cooper Axel Macdonald Peter Read Scott Wilgrove

Park Ward Margaret Davies Eleanor Hards Des Healy Catherine Kiely John Moody

Council and Committee meetings in December 2013 and January 2014 December Finance and General Purposes Planning and Administration January 2014 Planning and Development Council Environment Finance and General Purposes Council (if required) Planning and Development

16th 18th 8th 13th 20th 27th 27th (at 6pm) 29th

Staff Dominic Stapleton Karen Dodd Brenda Andrews Sharon Hickman Sue Atkins Paul Copley Steve Andrews Richard Dowling Justin Strong John Jones Neressa Copley Jed Allan

cmekiely@yahoo.co.uk Jmoody.dtc@virginmedia.com

Town Clerk Deputy Town Clerk Outdoor Services Manager Finance and Administration Information Centre Manager Grounds Supervisor Gardener Gardener Gardener Gatekeeper Pavilion Cleaner Gardening Apprentice

All meetings commence at 7.30pm and are held in the Civic Hall unless otherwise stated.

The Council operates a policy of public participation at meetings. For more information please contact us by calling 01235 812637 or email to council@didcot.gov.uk or write to Didcot Town Council, Civic Hall, Britwell Road, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 7HN or visit our website www.didcot.gov.uk.