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May / June 2022
New service connecting people to local food retailers A digital platform and delivery service that allows customers to shop online from local independent food retailers has launched in Chipping Norton and the surrounding region. Trove is an online service that allows people to shop from home (or work, or the park, or anywhere else) and have a single delivery to the door. The local suppliers available to shop include Chadlington Quality Foods, Hook Norton Butchers and Bruern Farm. A wide range of produce is available including fresh local meat and cheese, fruit and vegetables, bread and lots of handy store cupboard staples. Trove was launched by Victoria Ayres and Felicity Beasley to support the local high street and provide people a convenient way of supporting their local businesses by making shopping locally a more convenient experience. “The last couple of years have seen people recognise the importance of local suppliers and supporting the local economy as well as reminding us about the abundance of amazing produce on our doorstep” The trove van will be on the road delivering around the Cotswolds Tuesday to Friday. For more information or to shop with trove visit www.thelocaltrove.com. Contacts: hello@thelocaltrove.com / 07747 037769
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inside
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Garden View
We look at how to utilise perfect partnerships in your Garden this Spring and Summer
news 02 local New food delivery service launched 10 Exam Support garden view 08 astronomy When does Summer start? 12 All about partnerships cotswold link news 08 local Burford Festival & Taynton Fete 14 Advertising Details & Index education
Welcome to the May - June issue In this issue we look at some exciting local events on p8, as well as a new food delivery service being launched on p2. We’ve also got exciting news here at Cotswold Link, as we launch our new website, it’s full of great content and ways to promote your business online. Please visit p15 and www.cotswoldlink.co.uk for details. I hope you all enjoy this issue and I’ll see you again in July.
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Best wishes,
Christine Campbell | Editor
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KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY � ON THE ISSUE OF INHERITANCE TAX �IHT�
The IHT Nil Rate Band (NRB) – the amount which an individual can leave to their beneficiaries on death without paying the tax – has remained unchanged since 2009 at £325,000. Of course, asset values have not remained static and so more and more estates have become liable to IHT over recent years. When the first of a married couple to pass away leaves their entire estate to their surviving spouse, IHT is not normally payable at the time and the unused NRB can be passed on, effectively doubling the tax free amount following the second death.
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Furthermore, the phased introduction of the Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB) which started in 2017 is now complete and sits at an additional £175,000 per person, providing some welcome relief for homeowners wishing to pass their family home on to their direct descendants. So, where a married couple jointly owns a family home and wants to leave it to their children, for example, the total IHT exemption would be £1m. Of course, much of this is of little comfort to unmarried couples, those who are single, or who have no direct descendants. For estates in excess of £2m, the RNRB also starts to be tapered away and disappears completely for estates above £2.35m.
Impact of COVID-19 Following the introduction of the RNRB, after almost a decade of the NRB having been frozen, we believe it is unlikely that we will see a further rise for perhaps another decade or more. Any opportunity for a UK government to raise additional tax revenue to pay for the economic fallout of the Coronavirus pandemic is likely to be seized upon. During 2020 The Bank of England announced £450bn of quantitative easing to try to soften the economic impact of the pandemic. This significantly exceeds the £375bn pumped into the economy between 2009 and 2012, post the Financial Crisis. On both occasions we have seen that money work its way out into the wider economy and create inflation.
This was running at 5.5% in January, even before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting spike in oil prices. This situation, along with still very low interest rates in the UK, should, all things being equal, mean a boost to investment portfolios, properties and therefore estate values. If the expected inertia in IHT policy outlined above holds true, the combined effect is that the number of estates being liable for an IHT charge and the average size of that tax bill looks set to rise.
Possible Solutions There are various ways you can look to mitigate the IHT liability on your estate, across four broad categories: Spend it. It must be down to personal choice of course, but perhaps the simplest way to reduce the value of your estate and potential IHT bill is to enjoy the money. You’ve worked hard to accumulate your wealth so why not go ‘SKIing’ (Spending Kids Inheritance!). Buying appreciable assets such as property, antiques and collectables just shifts the value and could even make the problem worse. Instead, you could consider spending money on depreciating/wasting assets such as cars or on goods and services which immediately lose their monetary value such as eating out, entertainment and holidays. These activities all obviously have value beyond pounds and pence.
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Gift it. Making direct gifts to your chosen beneficiaries can be a satisfying way of reducing any future liability. We generally need to consider the ‘7-year rule’ (gifts made more than 7 years before death are free from IHT with taxable gifts made 3-7 years before death benefitting from tapering), but a much-overlooked rule is gifting from excess income. Gifts from excess income need not be outright but could be into a Trust. This would mean you can start to take value out of your estate but still have control over when the beneficiaries receive funds. A half-way house is a Loan Trust where the original sum always forms part of your estate and you can call upon it if you need it. However, any growth in the underlying investment is immediately outside of the estate and retained for the beneficiaries. Shelter it. Typically any funds held in Pensions will not form part of your estate. Therefore, these should be preserved and grown where possible. Not only do pensions offer IHT sheltering but of course, if you ever need the money yourself, it is there waiting for you. There are also various investments that you can make which attract IHT Business Relief. Normally these would fall outside of your estate after you have held them for just 2 years but you also retain ownership and control. The most straightforward option is to invest in a portfolio of Alternative Investment Market (AIM) shares, although this would generally be viewed as higher risk.
There are other options available where the structures are much more predictable and could appeal to even a cautious investor as part of their wider portfolio. These tend to operate in the field of renewable energy, which brings in returns from government subsidies. Secured property development lending is another popular choice, amongst others. Insure it. You can take out a Whole of Life insurance policy which would pay a lump sum out into a Trust. The Trust fund can then be used to pay the IHT bill. Or, your cash and other assets are used to pay the bill and the funds preserved in the Trust. Of course, you must consider the cost of the premiums which can be very expensive, particularly as you get older or if you suffer health issues. This is because, with a Whole of Life policy, the insurance company must account for the fact that they are going to have to pay the sum assured at some point, so long as premiums continue to be paid. If you are unable or unwilling to keep maintaining the premiums, the policy ceases and you lose the cover. If you are a couple, taking a joint policy that pays out on the second death reduces the risk to the insurance company of a pay out in the short term and therefore helps to keep the premiums down. I would caveat all of this with a warning about overplanning. You don’t want to be in a position where you have overspent, given too much away, tied too much up in longer term investments, or committed to expensive insurance premiums which eventually become a burden. Circumstances can change, income streams and investments vary, and unforeseen costs such as Long Term Care can come to the fore. There is a balance to be maintained between providing for yourselves, providing for your beneficiaries, and minimising tax.
Importance Of Planning You may well be asking “How much of a problem is this for me?”. No doubt you will have a general idea as to whether or not your estate is going to suffer IHT, but do you know the exact bill today should anything happen to you? Do you know what it might look like in the future if you do nothing? As you might expect, the way in which the IHT rules work and interrelate is complex. Each individual’s estate and viewpoint will be different, so there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach. This is where Wise Investment comes in. Once we have established the value of your estate, any existing planning you have carried out, and any future plans you may have, one of our team of Financial Planners can provide a comprehensive written report so that you know the facts and can start to make decisions on how to tackle the problem if the value of your estate is above the relevant threshold. We will regularly review your plan to ensure you stay on course to mitigate as much IHT as possible, without sacrificing your other financial goals. Joseph Cooper FPFS - Chartered Financial Planner
wise@wiseinvestment.co.uk www. wiseinvestment.co.uk 01608 695100
Important Information The information contained in this article is not a personal recommendation and should not be construed as investment advice. If you are unsure about the suitability of a particular investment you should speak to an authorised financial adviser. Every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information provided but no warranties or given. HMRC tax rates and allowances are subject to change and tax treatment may depend on individual circumstances. Wise Investments Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, reference number 230553. Registered Office: The Great Barn,Advertising Chalford Park Barns, Oxford Road, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 5QR. Registered in England 4970458. - contact Christine: 01609 777401 | www.cotswoldlink.co.uk
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Cotswold Sky
On what day does Summer really start?
Are you confused when listening to the weather reports on the 1st day of June to hear the weather forecaster inform you it is the first day of summer followed some 3 weeks later to be told that Summer has arrived with the occurrence of the Summer Solstice. The majority of people associate the change of the seasons with the solstices and equinoxes not with the meteorological seasons so what is going on?
Meteorological Seasons The meteorological seasons are split to make it easier for meteorological observing and forecasting to compare seasonal and monthly statistics. So Meteorological summer will always run from June 1st to August 31st. Thus, the meteorological seasons are made of 3 monthly seasons: Summer: 1st June – 31st August Autumn: 1st September – 30th November Winter: 1st December – 28th/29th February Spring: 1st March – 31st May
Solstices and Equinoxes The dates of the two solstices and two equinoxes are not fixed and can vary due to the Earth’s orbit of being approximately 365.25 days each year. This year’s dates are: Spring Equinox: 20th March Summer Solstice: 21st June Autumn Equinox: 23rd September
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Winter Solstice: 21st December Do we need 2 dates for the change of seasons? The meteorologists want their dates purely for the purpose of statistics, The Astronomer uses the dates for measuring the position of the Earth in relation to the Sun. This year we have had temperatures approaching 20º in March followed by snow in early April. However; the seasons continue to change but these do not occur overnight, so does it really matter if we have 2 dates?
Taynton Village Fete Nr. BURFORD, OX18 4UH Sat 25th June: 2pm–5pm A traditional village fête set in an idyllic Cotswold garden Come and enjoy the many stalls, games for children of all ages, Pimms Bar, afternoon teas, Chedworth Silver Band and much, much more at Taynton’s traditional garden fête. Forage around the White Elephant stall for that bargain, choose a delicious
homemade cake to take home for afternoon tea, get lucky at the bottle stall, Tombola and Raffle, visit the Home Made Produce and many more inviting stalls. Don’t forget the children – there are games galore! Entrance £2 and under 12s are FREE. All proceeds are in aid Taynton Church and Village Hall. A fun afternoon for all the family!
Diary Summer Solstice: 10.13am Tuesday 21st June (The longest day) Meteorite Showers: May 5th/6th The Eta Aquarids created by debris from Comet Halley. These can be observed between the east and south east in the early hours around 02.30 – 04.00 hours. Mercury can be observed during the first 10 days of May at Sunset, but cannot be seen again during the following weeks leading up to July. Venus Almost hides low down in the eastern sky during May but can be seen very close to Jupiter (what is known as a conjunction) on the 1st May. Will be difficult to observe during the lighter months of June. Mars can be observed during the pre-dawn sky looking towards the eastern horizon; close to Jupiter between 26th May and 3rd June. John Harris
Burford Festival
9th- 19th June 2022
After a Covid-enforced break of 3 years the Burford Festival is back and will be running from the 9th -19th June 2022. As always there will be a great selection of events and activities including: • the ever popular Open Gardens (June 11th-12th) • drama (Twelfth Night, Lady Bracknell’s Legacy and Under Milk Wood) • writers including Jeanette Winterson, Anne Youngson, Francesca Gibbons and Sue Leigh, • talks from Lord Hall (previously the Director General of the BBC) Brian Kay (founder of the King Singers and presenter on BBC Radio 2 and Radio 3), Jack Straw (MP and both Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary) and Stanley Johnson (Author, and former MEP) • an Alice in Wonderland themed cream tea
• a panel discussion on sustainability issues in Cotswolds • workshops on dance, poetry and creative writing • historical walking tours as well as a dramatic ghost tour • a free family fun day on the Rec • a fashion show • a Ghanaian Gala evening • a traders market (Sunday 19th) • lots of music including Jazz, Folk, an Organ Recital and, of course, the Festival Finale Concert with the Burford Singers.
More details on the website: www.burfordfestival.org Tickets Now on Sale!
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A message to all students:
How to approach the most difficult series of exams EVER During the next few weeks students throughout the UK will be facing the most academically difficult period of their young lives. For the cohort of the sixth form, and due to Covid lockdowns it will be their first formal examinations which is quite extraordinary. Fortunately, Ofqual (The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) have liaised with schools and the examination boards in an effort to relieve some of the stress from the students. This has accumulated with the examinations being written on selective topics which were published in February of this year. To allay fears of overstressing students, the Government has issued the following statement, “Remember you will be graded more generously this year”. The weakness with this message is that it sends the wrong message to some who may interpret that they can switch off. Advice to students (childline.org.uk/info-advice) It can seem scary to talk about stress or anxiety. You might feel like nobody
else is feeling this way. But bottling up stress and trying to deal with it on your own can often make the stress worse. So, it can really help to talk. You may ask, “Who can I talk to?”. Suggestions include: • Parents • Teachers • Friends Methods of preparation Organise yourself: • Keep to a program of study • Don’t panic if you cannot keep up with your schedule. Ask for help and re-assess. • Break down your studying into small chunks. • Set yourself targets for each session e.g., “today’s target is Photosynthesis” • Include past exam questions in your targets (past papers with answers are available on the internet) check the answers and learn from your mistakes. • Give yourself regular short 10/20 minute breaks during your study periods. • Vary your methods of revision. There are innumerable excellent study resources on the internet including BBC Bitesize and various YouTube programmes. Your school will no doubt
give you advice on which to use. Conclusion We all want you to do well so do not be shy in asking for help, and if you; the student; can say in all honesty that you have done your very best in preparing for your exams, then you will have no regrets as you progress through life. References: www.gov.uk/government/publications/ additional-help-for-students-takingexams-in-summer-2022-postcard
• www.childline. org.uk/infoadvice/schoolcollege-and-work • www.studentminds.org.uk/examstress.html • www.youngminds.org.uk/professional/resources/staying-mentally-healthyduring-exams/ Wishing students of all ages the best of luck in their forthcoming examinations. JOHN HARRIS
LPA Today
Professional creation and registration of a Lasting Power of Attorney is simply the best investment you can make in Your Life… As the professionally drafted LPA is a legal document setting out your wishes as to who will make decisions for you, should you lose mental capacity through accident or illness. NB. You can authorise ‘help’ with every day financial decisions (claiming benefits, paying bills, sale of property etc.) before loss of capacity. Properly drafted, your LPA details how your Attorneys make decisions, as well as what decisions can be made - in line with your preferences and instructions. Thereby protecting your future and your values. Remember, when it’s needed the most, it will be too late, as an LPA cannot be registered once there is doubt regarding mental capacity. The only route at that point will be through the Court of Protection, whereby a ‘Deputy’ will be appointed.
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A costly and time-consuming process, with no guarantee of who will then act on your behalf. So, when does a registered LPA take effect? A health and Welfare LPA can only take effect once you have lost mental capacity and are no longer able to make your own decisions. A financial decisions LPA can take effect before you lose the ability to make your own decisions, although you must give permission. If you don’t provide permission, your financial decisions LPA will simply take effect once you’ve lost mental capacity (just like a health and Welfare LPA). LPA’s Do Not relinquish control, they provide You with control and protection. Please call LPA-Today on 01608 644163 to discuss this further. Please mention Your CotswoldLink when contacting any of our advertisers
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Garden View
Partnership Perfection This month
When we think about climbing plants, we most often think about growing them to cover a wall or a fence. We might think about growing them over a dead tree stump too, but one of the nicest ways to grow them is through a living tree or a shrub. It’s an excellent way of providing more interest in the same space, either by timing each plant’s display so they follow on from each other, or by timing the flowering so they bloom at the same time, thus doubling the impact of the display. There are a few rules you need to follow when you plant a climber with the intention of growing it up a living host. First, the host shrub or tree should be established, woody, and strong enough to hold up the climber’s weight when it’s fully grown and flowering. Second you don’t want to use too vigorous a climber, otherwise it might swamp the host. Finally, avoid fast-growing evergreen climbers because they
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prevent light getting to the host, and may cause it to develop disease and die. You can certainly use less aggressive evergreens such as the ivy Hedera ‘pedata’ or Hedera ‘Curlylocks’ around the base of well-established trees. These will look beautiful without overwhelming the structure and flowering of the host plant. Climbers that look good over trees and shrubs are typically, clematis, honeysuckle, and roses. Look for species that grow to 3m or less as these are ideal for growing up most garden trees. Species that are cut back to 15-20cm every winter are also ideal. Clematis ‘Abundance’, ‘Etoile Violette’ and ‘Little Nell’ are all good choices. Honeysuckle can often be seen (and smelled) growing through trees in the wild. For your garden look for cultivars of the common honeysuckle, such as Lonicera periclymenum. Rambling roses can grow to monstrous proportions,
so look for smaller varieties such as ‘City of York’ and ‘Parade’, which also have a long season of interest. If you have a cool moist area try growing the perennial nasturtium, Tropaeolum speciosum. The jewelcoloured flowers will brighten a darker space. Tips for successful pairing Don’t plant the climber too close to the base of the host or they will be competing for the same water and nutrients. Counterintuitively plant the climber on the shadier side of the host. That way the climber will be forced to c=grow towards the light. If you plant the climber in a large plastic pot with the bottom cut out, it helps contain the plant and reduces competition. Happy Gardening, Rachael Leverton
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There are thousands of reasons to advertise with us... North Cotswolds
West Oxfordshire
16,900 20,500 homes & businesses
Index Bathrooms Country Bathrooms: p5 Blinds Associated Blinds: p16 Builders & Contractors Country Roofing & Building Contractors: p12 Garolla Garage Doors: p5 S Wright Building Services: p13 Children’s Services Cotswold Tutor: p10 Computer William Chaltsry Computer Services: p11 Education Cotswold Tutor: p10 Sibford School: p3
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West Oxfordshire July-August Copy: 8th June Dist: w/c 4th July
North Cotswolds July-August
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homes & businesses
Electrical Services Aerial Solutions: p8 Mayday Aerials: p12 Events Burford Festival: p9 Taynton Village Fete: p9 Finance LPA Today: p10 Wise Investments: p6-7 Food The Local Trove: p2 Furniture Amanda Hanley By Design: p1 Andy Bennett Upholstery: p4 Bob Dadge Carpentry: p4 Garage Doors Garolla Garage Doors: p5 Gardening & Outdoors Cotswold Garden Designs: p13
Russell Nicholls Tree Services: p1 Stockwell Davies Tree Contractors: p13 Tom Negus Tree Care: p13 Waterside Landscaping: p13 Gifts Alain Rouveure Galleries: p9 Cotswold Frames: p4 Glass Chips Away: p4 CN Glass: p1 & p5 Healthcare & Wellbeing Alain Rouveure Galleries: p9 Cotswold Deep Tissue Massage: p11 Cotswolds Foot Clinic: p11 Footworx Clinic: p11 Home & Interiors Alain Rouveure Galleries: p9 Amanda Hanley By Design: p1
The Alvin Roy Jazz Quartet regular “first Friday of the month” gig at the Five Alls, has been changed to the first Tuesday of the month, starting on June 7th. Free entrance and starting at 8 pm finishing at 10pm.
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Next issues
Andy Bennett Upholstery: p4 Associated Blinds: p16 Bob Dadge Carpentry: p4 Country Bathrooms: p5 Rooflight Company: p3 Kitchens & Bathrooms Country Bathrooms: p5 Motoring Chips Away: p4 Painting & Decorating Stephen McNally Painting & Decorating: p4 Plumbing Gas & Oil Heating: p14 M.P.N Plumbing: p15 Property Maintenance CN Glass: p1 Country Roofing & Building Contractors: p12
Garolla Garage Doors: p4 Sport & Leisure Cotswold Archery: p8 GLL/Better: p15 Sound & Vision Mayday Aerials: p12 Tree Surgery Russell Nicholls Tree Services: p1 Stockwell Davies Tree Contractors: p13 Tom Negus Tree Care: p13 Tuition Cotswold Tutor: p10 Windows CN Glass: p1 & p5 Rooflight Company: p3
“Jazz Concert for Ukraine”. Thursday 30th June at the Chipping Norton Theatre. Tickets £12 from the box Office. 01608 642350. 14 jazz musicians from Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire are taking part to raise money for the Red Cross Ukraine refugee campaign. All musicians are playing for free
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CotswoldLink New Website Hello Everybody,, I am delighted to announce the launch of our new Your Cotswold Link website! Please visit www.cotswoldlink.co.uk to take a look.
The new website is fully secure, with an updated design and new features to help connect local businesses and residents in the North Cotswolds and West Oxfordshire. Benefits for businesses • Browse a full range of advertising options & prices • Book standard print adverts online • Book online business directory listings online • Upgrade an existing business listing - Standard & Premium listings include SEO backlink to your website • Secure automatic payments for the duration of your subscription cycle - i.e. If you book a print advert with 2 insertions, one payment would be taken at checkout for your first insertion and the second payment would be taken automatically 2 months later for your second insertion • Ability to manage your print advert & business listing orders and subscriptions online • Submit your adverts, design requests, events and editorials online • Check Your Cotswold magazine distribution dates Benefits for local residents & businesses • Find a business using our online business directory • Local news - latest news from local councils & media
• Upcoming events - find out what’s happening in the area • Useful editorials - Cotswold Sky, education, gardens & more • Browse previous editions of Your Cotswold Link magazine
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Your FREE online business listing As an existing advertiser with Your Cotswold Link magazine, you’re eligible for a free online business listing. If you have not yet done so, please submit your business details here - www.cotswold-link.myshopify. com/pages/online-business-directories-listing-form If you’ve already sent your details through, you can view your listing here - www.cotswold-link.myshopify. com/collections/cotswolds-business-directories-list Upgrade your listing with 20% off As a valued customer, we’re offering you the chance to upgrade your online business listing with 20% off! Our Standard and Premium business listings include online reviews and a link back to your website which can assist with your SEO. A Premium listing also includes location details and additional images for your business.
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Here’s how to upgrade your listing: • Visit www.cotswold-link.myshopify.com/collections/business-directories-online-advertising • Choose either a Standard (£10/month) or Premium (£15/month) listing • Choose your preferred billing frequency - if you choose to pay annually, you’ll receive an additional 25% off • Add to cart and proceed to checkout • Enter the discount code UPGRADE20 • Enter your details & pay (we prefer PayPal payments where possible please) If you have any questions or feedback about my new website, please feel free to get in touch. You can contact me on 01609 777401, 07742 595747, or by email: christine@cotswoldlink.co.uk
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