Blackthorn Parish Council

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Governance and Procedures

Parish Councils were established as the first tier of local government in 1894 to take over local oversight of civic duties in rural towns and villages. Blackthorn Parish Council discharges its duties and powers within the law and according to its governance policies.

The rules governing the behaviour of Parish Councillors are set out in the Code of Conduct produced by Local Government Association and adopted by the Parish in February 2023. Parish Councillors work to rules on how business is conducted, as set out in the Standing Orders and the Financial Regulations.

Blackthorn Parish Council-Code of Conduct 2022-ParishVersion-Adopted 09022023

Blackthorn Parish Council-Standing Orders-Updated 2025-Adopted 5.6.2025-Min.Ref.M5.2025-25.90-c

Blackthorn Parish Council Financial Regulations 2025-5 March 2026 – Min. Ref. M2.2026-26.29-c

Data Protection Policy-Privacy Notice-Adopted3October2024-MinuteRef.M8.2024-24.178-a-ii

Further Policies
Communication Policy - Review 2026-Adopted on 5 March 2026 – Minute Ref. M2.2026-26.29-b-i

BPC-Equality and Diversity Policy-Adopted-Min.M10.2024-24.223-a-iii - V105122024

BlackthornPC-Biodiversity Policy-Adopted3.10.2024-M8.2024-24.178-a-i

Blackthorn Parish Council-IT Policy - Adopted 22 May 2025-Min Ref.M4.2025-25.72-d

Complaints Procedure, PDF Form and Word Form (adopted xx )

Blackthorn Parish Council -Freedom Of Information Act 2000-Adopted 2 October 2025-M8.2025-25.

FoI Disclosure Log (adopted xx)

BPC Retention Policy Revised 2025-Adopted 6 November 2025-Min.Ref.M9.2025-25.147-C

Gifts and Hospitality Policy (adopted xx)
Grants Policy and Application Form (adopted xx)
Blackthorn Parish Council-Internal Controls Policy-Adopted 12022026-MinRef.M1.2026-26.8-b-ii

Marking the Death of a Senior National Figure (adopted xx)

Protocol on pre-application meetings for major developments (adopted xx)

Recording of Meetings Policy (adopted xx)

Reserves Policy (adopted xx)

Press and Media Policy (adopted xx)

Risk Assessment 2025-26 - Approved 5 March 2026 - Minute Ref M2.2026-26.29-d

Internal Audit Review of Effectiveness-Review2025-26-Adopted12.2.2026

Litter Pick Risk Assessment (xx )Social Media Policy (adopted xx)
Vacancy Procedure (adopted xx)

Virtual Meeting Procedures

Blackthorn Accessibility Statement Adopted 3 July 2025-Min.Ref.M6.2025-25.115-a

Welcome to Blackthorn Parish Council website.

On this site we will publish Council meeting information, latest news, Parish Council events and village information. Whether you are a villager or visitor we hope you will find all the information you need.

About Blackthorn

Blackthorn is a small village 3 miles southeast of Bicester on the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire border. The parish is bounded by the River Ray to the south and the village lies between the A41 and B4011 main roads.

Grounded in Celtic history settled by the Romans and overrun by the Saxons, Blackthorn was then lost to history until the late 16th century. A hamlet of neighbouring parish Ambrosden, Blackthorn did not become a village in its own right until Queen Elizabeth I sold it to John Denton of Ambrosden for the princely sum of £612 3s. 9d.

Throughout the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries Blackthorn had prosperous local businesses, a chapel and school and was a thriving farming community. This sense of community spirit is still at the heart of the village today.

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