22 january 2015 oxfordshire guardian witney

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Witney & Carterton edition

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Man who scarred teen for life is behind bars

Thursday, January 22 - Wednesday, January 28, 2015

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Aftermath of arson

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Thursday, January 22 - Wednesday, January 28, 2015

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District rate recommended to stay the same for 2015/16

COUNCIL’S TAX RATE FREEZE TO CONTINUE IT could be up to three years before staff can move back to council headquarters that were destroyed in a blaze. A thatched cottage, funeral directors and South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils’

offices were torched in a suspected arson spree last Thursday morning. If it needs a complete rebuilt it may be 2018 before its 400 staff return. Police have not confirmed rumours the fires may have

been sparked after a planning row. A 47-year-old man from Roke Marsh is to appear at Oxford Crown Court on January 30 on arson charges.

• For full story see page 2

• Firefi ghters dampen down the burnt out shell (picture by More Than Images)

COUNCIL tax rates in West Oxfordshire are set to be frozen for a fifth successive year when the district council’s budget is set next month. The council’s cabinet will recommend that the district’s share of tax remains at £81.63 for a band D property a year at the full council meeting on February 25. This equates to a payment of just over £1.50 a week per household. Simon Hoare (pictured), Conservative cabinet member for resources, put forward the recommendation at the cabinet meeting last Wednesday. He said: “We have a commit-

By Adam Flinn adam@taylornewspapers.co.uk

ment to keeping council tax low and the recommendation will be to freeze levels for 2015-16. “It will be the fi fth consecutive year that we will have done this whilst continuing to protect services and this is no mean feat, especially at a time of ongoing significant reductions in local authority funding. “Local taxpayers will be pleased to know that we are on target to deliver a budget that is not • Continues on page 3

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