Agenda and draft minutes

To consider apologies and reasons for absence.

Committee Members who are unable to attend the meeting should notify the Democratic Services Officer (nicky.cayley@witney-tc.gov.uk) prior to the meeting, stating the reason for absence.

Standing Order 30(a)(v) permits the appointment of substitute Councillors to a Committee whose role is to replace ordinary Councillors at a meeting of a Committee if ordinary Councillors of the Committee have confirmed to the Proper Officer before the meeting that they are unable to attend.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs J Aitman and A McMahon.

Members are reminded to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests in any of the items under consideration at this meeting in accordance with the Town Council’s code of conduct.

There were no declarations of interest in matters to be discussed at the meeting.

The meeting will adjourn for this item

Members of the public may speak for a maximum of five minutes each during the period of public participation, in line with Standing Order 42.  Matters raised shall relate to the following items on the agenda.

The committee adjourned in line with Standing Order 42 in order for John Garside to speak in support of the LibFest licensing application but against the use of the Leys as an events field.

To receive and consider a Licensing Application from WODC

With the express permission of the Chair this item was brought up the agenda so that the public in attendance could hear the discussion.

Members received and considered licensing application W/20/00105/PRMA made by LibFest for its festival at The Leys in June 2020.

RESOLVED:          1. that Witney Town Council supports LibFest as a community event and has no objections to this application; and,

                                2. that these comments are forwarded to ERS at West Oxfordshire District Council.

As per schedule.

The Committee received and considered planning applications from West Oxfordshire District Council.

RESOLVED:          that the comments, as per the attached schedule, be forwarded to West Oxfordshire District Council.

To receive and consider the survey from West Oxfordshire District Council and form a response if appropriate.

Members received the West Oxfordshire District Council Planning Services Parish Survey 2020.

It was noted that this survey was more appropriate for parishes and not towns, but this was an opportunity to raise challenges which face the town in the next five years. Due to the increase of new and proposed houses it was felt that the current infrastructure was not sustainable in terms or roads, cycling path connectivity, sports and leisure provision, health facilities and school funding. There was also concern over the discharge of sewage into the River Windrush.

RESOLVED:          that the comments be entered onto the Paris Survey response and forwarded to the District Council.

To receive a verbal report from the Chair.

The Committee heard from the Chair that a published list of infrastructure projects would assist the Council in formulating and targeting responses in any future developments in terms of Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contributions. It was agreed that an Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) would consist of two parts; one which contained items that were deliverable by the Town Council under its legal and statutory obligations under headings and assets. The second would be items required by the town under the remit of other authorities given the Council’s knowledge of the areas in question.

It was agreed that members would work on their lists and send them back to the Chair to collate before the next meeting to be signed off. This list could then be forwarded to the Council and form an addendum of the Strategic Plan.

RESOLVED:          1. that members consider items to be included within the Witney Infrastructure Delivery Plan and provide them to the Chair prior to the next meeting of the committee; and,

2. That this item be included as an agenda item at the next meeting where a draft plan can be completed and submitted for adoption by the Council.