http://www.stephentall.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from Stephen Tall en-GB Stephen Tall http://www.stephentall.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2008 Stephen Tall 2008-07-24T14:37+01:00 United Kingdom http://www.stephentall.org.uk/news/000616/still_human_still_here_sleepout_in_oxford_this_wednesday.html An email reaches me advertising a sleep-out to create awareness of how failed asylum seekers are forced to live 2008-03-02T18:17+00:00 http://www.stephentall.org.uk/news/000617/headington__marston_transport_strategy_wheres_it_up_to.html I've just received the latest update from Oxfordshire County Council on the current state of play with transport schemes in our area. I've listed them all below, together with the Council's assessment of what's happening, and what's been completed. Any questions, do please let me know: stephen[at]stephentall.org.uk 2008-02-26T06:18+00:00 http://www.stephentall.org.uk/news/000619/headington_farmers_market_this_friday.html I've just received an email from Charles Young, organiser of the Headington Farmers' Market - www.headingtonmarket.net - alerting me to the fact that this Friday, 22nd February, the market will be open for business once again. There's a terrific range of produce available, so if you haven't popped along yet, make sure you do this week... 2008-02-20T19:40+00:00 http://www.stephentall.org.uk/news/000618/new_westgate_shopping_centre__disruption_during_works.html Rather unsurprisingly there's going to be some disruption to your normal shopping service if you're planning to use the Westgate Centre while it's being revamped. The Council press release below gives further details of changes to Shopmobility, the toilets and the parking machines... 2008-02-20T16:14+00:00 http://www.stephentall.org.uk/news/000620/lib_dems_call_on_labour_mp_andrew_smith_to_explain_support_for_poor_deal_for_oxford_city.html Liberal Democrats in Oxford East are calling on Andrew Smith to explain why he backed a cash settlement for Oxford City Council that is below the average rise given to other councils. 2008-02-08T14:06+00:00 http://www.stephentall.org.uk/news/000621/david_rundle_radical_change_ahead_for_oxfords_leisure_centres.html My Headington ward colleague, Cllr David Rundle, has two unenviable tasks: being the City Council's deputy leader, and responsible for Oxford's leisure centres. He's written to The Oxford Times to address how the Lib Dems are dealing with the terrible legacy of two decades of Labour neglect of our leisure centres: 2008-02-06T09:09+00:00 http://www.stephentall.org.uk/news/000615/lib_dems_reveal_council_tax_has_doubled_since_labour_came_to_power_in_97.html We all know what in iniquitous tax the Council Tax is. Introduced by the Tories, it has been kept by Labour - and the cost has doubled in the last decade under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. The average council tax per dwelling in England and Wales has increased by 96% since 1997/8, from £554 to over £1000 in 2007/08. The Liberal Democrats would, as I'm sure you know, scrap council tax and replace it with a fairer tax based on the ability to pay. 2008-02-03T19:01+00:00 http://www.stephentall.org.uk/news/000613/neighbourhood_policing_soon_to_be_on_the_headington_beat.html This Wednesday, 6th February, sees the very first meeting of the Headington North Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG). The Headington North NAG forms part of the Neighbourhood Policing programme that will be fully operational nationally by April 2008. 2008-02-03T18:18+00:00 http://www.stephentall.org.uk/news/000622/combating_racism__how_oxford_city_does_it.html A resident recently asked what exactly Oxford City Council does to tackle racism in our community. It was one of those questions which, slightly embarrassingly, stumped me: I know the Council has always taken a firm anti-racist line - and that councillors have made it a priority for the Council to enact anti-discrimination legislation - but that's a bit different from working out how you can change hearts and minds in the city at large. I asked one of the Council managers to brief me, and thought I'd share her bullet points with you... 2008-01-25T17:16+00:00 http://www.stephentall.org.uk/news/000612/lib_dems_announce_weekly_food_collections_to_begin_again.html Oxford's Lib Dem city council has announced it intends to start up a pilot scheme this spring to ensure food waste can be collected from more than 6,500 properties in the city. Assuming it's successful, the pilot will be widened to include the whole of Oxford. 2008-01-24T18:17+00:00 http://www.stephentall.org.uk/news/000614/dont_forget_headingtons_farmers_market_this_friday.html If it's the fourth Friday of the month that can mean only one thing: Headington farmer's market on Kennett Road, simply the best place to stock up on fresh meat, vegetables and other delicacies. Chares Young the market's organiser, brings us this month's highlights: 2008-01-23T18:18+00:00 http://www.stephentall.org.uk/news/000611/clegg_time_for_radical_grassroots_innovation_in_public_services.html New Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has hit 2008 running, delivering a major speech setting the tone for the party's approach to public services under his leadership - in short, making sure they are driven by local people's needs, not by bureaucrats in Whitehall. Here are some extracts from his speech, below: 2008-01-12T18:02+00:00 http://www.stephentall.org.uk/news/000610/a_very_merry_christmas_and_happy_new_year_to_all_readers.html I'm talking a fortnight's break from this website (and politics), so this message is simply to wish all readers - and in particular those living in Headington - all the very best for the forthcoming festivities. I wish you and your families every happiness, and look forward to picking up old and new casework on residents' behalf in 2008. 2007-12-24T14:00+00:00 http://www.stephentall.org.uk/news/000609/list_of_new_planning_applications.html The following planning applications in the North East area have been submitted to Oxford City Council. Plans may be inspected at the offices of the Head of Planning Control and Conservation, Ramsay House, 10 St Ebbes Street, Oxford OX1 1PT. 2007-12-21T18:18+00:00 http://www.stephentall.org.uk/news/000608/neighbourhood_policing_comes_to_headington.html Two further Neighbourhood Policing Action Groups within the North East [Headington & Marston] area are due to start early in the New Year: 2007-12-19T18:17+00:00