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Investing in the Covered Market's future
At this week's Cabinet meeting, investment of almost £7m was approved to revitalise Oxford's historic Covered Market!
The regeneration project, known as The Covered Market Masterplan, has been prepared over the last two years with extensive consultation with market traders, residents and other stakeholders.
The Masterplan will respect the unique character, heritage and history of the market, which opened almost 250 years ago, while securing the long-term future of the Grade II-listed building.
There are three main improvements in the Masterplan:
- A ‘pedestrian-friendly’ space on Market Street
- New communal space opening onto Market Street
- Improved entrances on High Street and Cornmarket Street
The plans will also include more essential improvements to the Market (such as drainage) at the same time as the more visible transformations that will bring the historical market into the 21st century.
This is such an exciting time for the market and we can't wait to see how it transforms the space and makes it even more inviting for all visitors.
National Apprenticeship Week
This week is National Apprenticeship Week, to mark the week we published the end-of-project report on our work as a Kickstart ‘gateway’ supporting young people into work and training.
Since September 2020, we have secured 137 placements under the government's 'Kickstart' scheme, creating new jobs for 71 young people in Oxford.
The scheme provided employers with funding to create new job placements for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who were at risk of long term unemployment.
Our Economic Development Team acted as a ‘gateway’ organisation, supporting over 50 local employers to provide the 137 Kickstart placements.
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Oxford homelessness initiative will help home nearly 50 people
This week we announced a new partner, Response, as part of a project to help around 47 people experiencing or at risk of rough sleeping into safe and affordable homes.
In September 2021 we agreed to invest in social impact investment company Resonance and their National Homelessness Property Fund 2. With match funding from Resonance and central government, this has created a £6m fund to buy shared houses and one-bed properties on the open market and let them to people at local housing allowance rates.
People are now starting to move into their new homes and by partnering with Response they will also get specialist support services.
Response provides person-centred, recovery-focused, wraparound support for people with mental health issues and complex needs, enabling them to live independently within their local community.
Preventing rough sleeping and single homelessness
As well as the Response announcement, this week we've also approved a £1.67m grant budget to help prevent rough sleeping and single homelessness.
The grants will support the Oxfordshire Homeless Alliance and additional services within Oxford itself.
Launched in April 2022, the Oxfordshire Homeless Alliance is a ‘housing-led’ service with the aim of preventing and reducing rough sleeping across the county.
A housing-led approach says people should be offered permanent housing immediately and without preconditions like engaging with treatment services. Wraparound support can then be provided to help them maintain their tenancies.
Nobody should have to sleep rough in Oxfordshire. Our investment in homeless prevention grants will help Oxfordshire Homeless Alliance to work collectively and effectively to prevent and reduce rough sleeping across our county.
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Oxford recognised as a Net Zero leader on climate change
Oxford has been recognised as a Net Zero leader in combatting climate change, having been awarded £75,000 feasibility funding by the government to help accelerate Oxford’s transition to Net Zero.
We are one of 30 councils to be awarded the Net Zero Living Programme fund from Innovate UK.
The successful £74,911 bid will help us to explore the creation of a new 'one stop shop' for residents and businesses who want to find out about retrofit services for their homes and premises, while also strengthening the local supply chain - through an innovative "FutureFit" concept.
The money will fund a feasibility study into how Oxford can take the next steps to achieve Net Zero, by addressing specific challenges for commercial, industrial, and domestic projects, looking at issues around power, heat, mobility, product manufacturing and usage.
We will be leading the study alongside Low Carbon Hub. Other partners include the University of Oxford, Lucy Group, Oxfordshire County Council, and Oxford Brookes University, as well as ODS, Centre for Net Zero, and Arup.
Climate Action Oxfordshire
Wash clothes on a cold cycle
You might have heard that hot water washes best, but times change. New detergent technology uses enzymes that actually work better in cold water.
Cold water is gentler on your clothes, and can protect them from fading, shrinking or bleeding. Plus you save money from unnecessary water heating.
Hot water heating accounts for about 90 percent of the energy your machine uses to wash clothes — only 10 percent goes to electricity used by the washer motor.
Together, small changes add up to big action so head over to their website if you want to be a part of something.
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Have your story turned into an AR trail
Do you have a story that celebrates the diversity of Oxford? Would you like it featured in a brand new interactive trail around the city centre?
Following on from the success of the 'Hunt for the Lost Toys' interactive Christmas trail, we're putting together another adventure for families to follow their phones and find the stories of Oxford’s communities past and present.
To build the trail, we want your stories about living in Oxford, your community, places or events that are part of your Oxford.
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Useful information for Oxford |
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Changes to how you vote
The Government is bringing in new rules that will require voters to bring photo ID to polling stations when they vote. The rules become effective from 4 May 2023.
Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council each have a by-election taking place on 2 March, for the Littlemore Ward (City) and the Rose Hill and Littlemore Ward (County). As these take place before the new rules come into force, on 4 May, they will not apply to either.
Neither Oxford City Council nor Oxfordshire County Council have any scheduled elections until May 2024, but should there be a by-election after 4 May 2023, it will be held under the new rules.
For the first time, residents will need to show photographic ID to vote at elections. The City Council is urging residents to make sure they are ready to vote by checking they have an accepted form of ID. These include:
- a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport
- a UK, EEA or Commonwealth drivers’ licence
- some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card.
Voters will be able to use an expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.
Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID will be able to apply for free ID, known as a Voter Authority Certificate, online at www.voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk/ or by completing a paper form.
The full list of accepted ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website, along with more information about the new requirement and details of how to apply for the free ID, at electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID.
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Do you have spare bedrooms?
New hosts, with two or more spare bedrooms, are needed to help families from Ukraine looking for somewhere safe to live with their children while they plan their next step.
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Turkish and Syrian earthquake
“On behalf of everyone in the City Council and in Oxford, we want to express our shock and sorrow for the devastating earthquake in Türkiye and Syria. Our thoughts are with the Turkish and Syrian people and all those delivering the emergency response.
“Our thoughts are also with the Turkish and Syrian communities in Oxford, who will be anxious about their family, friends and compatriots. This Friday and over the weekend, communities directly impacted by the disaster and wider Oxford communities are organising special prayers for all those affected by this horrific event.
“In the coming days and weeks aid organisations will be asking for our support, the following organisations are already providing frontline relief: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC); MSF UK; Oxfam; The White Helmets; International Rescue Committee”
Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council, and Councillor Shaista Aziz, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Communities
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New cycle route
We’re working with ODS to widen a footpath in Marsh Park to create a new cycle route to avoid Marsh Road, or travel between Cowley Road and Barracks Lane.
The cycle route will be 3m wide – enough space for cyclists and pedestrians to share the space.
The work starts tomorrow (Monday 13 February) and will take around seven weeks. During the work, the foot path will be closed and a diversion will be in place.
We’ve also recently completed resurfacing Boundary Brook from Campbell Road to Iffley Road, and we’re planning two more – in Donnington Rec and King George’s Field – soon.
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Stay Connected:
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@OxfordCityCouncil
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@OxfordCity
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@oxfordcitycouncil
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