And in other news…..

THAME Town Council will make local history when it holds the council’s very first ever, virtual Full Council Meeting in public over Zoom, next Tuesday, on April 28, at 6.30pm.

Typical Zoom meeting screen (for illustrative purposes only)

The meeting will be held in accordance with The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020.

To view the meeting, use the URL: https://zoom.us/j/598240993 – Meeting ID: 598 240 993 – To obtain the Password, contact the Town Council up to two hours before the meeting start time (6.30pm). Email: info@thametowncouncil.gov.uk or call: 01844 212833.  You must be on the electoral role to join this meeting. Exceptions will be made for representatives, agents and authorities.  The agenda is HERE

THE vacant shop in Thame town centre that was Steamer Trading, is likely to be taken over by Specsavers, following a planning application currently with South Oxfordshire District Council’s Planning deparment for ‘Redecoration of the existing timber shop front and installing a Specsavers fascia and new hanging sign and undertaking internal fit-out with de-mountable partitioning and replacing the hvac units.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Healthcare Trust, which includes Stoke Mandeville Hospital, has set up a scheme to help families and friends stay in contact with the ones they love in hospital, that they are unable to visit. Family and friends can send a letter to a loved one via a dedicated email address bht.lettertoalovedone@nhs.net. Full details here: https://www.buckshealthcare.nhs.uk/About/trust-launches-letter-to-a-loved-one-initiative.htm

SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council has re-opened its bulky waste collection service for large household items. It is limited to online orders only and there are a limited number of bookings available. The bulky waste collection service was temporarily stopped to allow the council’s waste contractor, Biffa to prioritise the important kerbside household collections while members of their waste collection crews were off sick or self-isolating. Biffa has now built up sufficient resilience in its workforce and can now provide the paid-for service again. The situation is being regularly monitored and residents should be aware that if staffing levels fall the service may need to be suspended again.

Examples of what they collect:

furniture (such as sofas, chairs, and tables)
televisions
washing machines
mattresses
fridges and freezers*

Full instructions and advise here: http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/services-and-advice/recycling-rubbish-and-waste/your-recycling-and-waste-collections/bulky-household