Agenda and 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  ...  view the full agenda text for item SC227

There were no apologies of absence received.

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

There were no interests declared at the meeting.

To receive nominations and agree a Vice Chairman of this Committee for the ensuing municipal year.

RESOLVED:          that Cllr J Aitman be elected as Vice Chair of the committee for the ensuing municipal year.

a)            To adopt and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Community Services Committee held on 18 March 2019 (enclosed).

b)            Matters arising from the minutes not covered elsewhere on the agenda. (Questions on the progress of any item).

a) RESOLVED:  that the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2019 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

b) MATTERS ARISING:  C115 – Following a member’s question, it was advised that the Youth Council’s Easter event had been successful and raised in the region  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC230

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.

No members of the public spoke under public participation.

To receive and consider the report of the Town Clerk (enclosed).

The Committee received and considered the report of the Town Clerk as circulated prior to the meeting.

RECOMMENDED: 

1. that the report and committee vision and objectives be noted;

2. that, with the addition of support for the Youth Council and joint working with other authorities, the committee terms of  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC232

To receive and consider the report of the Operations and Estates Officer (enclosed).

The Committee received the report and a verbal update on its contents from the Operations and Estates Officer.

RECOMMENDED:             that the report and update be noted.

8.1          Request for Grit Bin from a resident – Beech Road – correspondence enclosed

8.2          Request for a Memorial Bench on The Leys – report of Operations & Estates Officer (enclosed)

8.3          Defibrillators – report of the Operations & Estates Officer (enclosed)

8.4          Trees – report of Operations & Estates Officer (enclosed)

The Committee received and considered three reports relating to the Council’s estates and street furniture; namely a request for a memorial bench at the Leys and updates on defibrillators and trees. A request from a member of the public for a grit bin in Beech Road was also discussed.

With  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC234

That Chairman has requested that the Committee gives consideration to a Community Piano http://www.streetpianos.com/ Further information will be given at the meeting.

The Chair presented members with the idea of a Community Piano which has proved popular and successful in other parts of the country. The piano could be weatherproofed, hopefully decorated by Witney and Abingdon College if they agreed, and sited in an area of the town once the necessary permissions  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC235

To receive and consider the report of the Communications & Events Officer (enclosed).

The Committee received and considered the report of the Communications and Events Officer as circulated with the agenda. Members were interested in the annual survey but noted a substantial disparity in the age range of respondents with none being under eighteen, something that should be addressed in future. Members also  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC236

11.1        Civil/Council run events – report of the Communications & Events Officer (enclosed)

11.2        Third Party events on Council land – update from the Operations & Estates Officer (enclosed)

The Committee received and considered the report of the Communications and Events Officer. With regard to the Heritage Open Days, Members agreed that an event around street history ideas would be interesting and could include buildings and businesses with a walking guide based on the poppy trail of November 2018.  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC237

To receive and consider the report of the Office Manager (enclosed).

The Committee received and considered the report of the Office Manager and were in support of discharging the recommendations of the former World War One Working Party in relation to hand knitted poppies. A further quotation should be sought in order to get the books and bookmarks printed before this  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC238

To receive and consider the report of the Projects Officer (enclosed)

The Committee received the report of the Project Officer in relation to the Schools’ Christmas competitions and were in full agreement that these were engaging  and successful projects that should continue.

RECOMMENED:  

1. that this item be noted;

2. that Primary Schools be written to with competition details.

To RESOLVE to fly the Refugee Nation Flag on 20 June 2019 – Chairman’s verbal report

Members received a proposal from the Chair to fly the Refugee Nation Flag on 20th June as part of refugee awareness week. It was advised that there were six refugee families living in Witney and if the Council were to be in agreement, the Council would be the first  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC240

To receive and consider the report of the Town Clerk (enclosed)

The Committee received the report of the Town Clerk regarding the fire that had occurred adjacent to Farmers Close in June 2018. The Town Council had received an undertaking from the insurance underwriters at the time confirming a payment would be made to cover the cost of remedial hazard cleaning  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC241

To receive and consider the report of the Town Clerk (enclosed).

Members received the report of the Town Clerk who explained that this was something that committees received on a quarterly basis as part of its commitment under financial management.

RECOMMENDED:             that the report be noted.

To note the minutes of the meetings held on 1 April and 12 May 2019 (enclosed)

The committee received two sets of minutes of the Witney District Twinning Association and were advised that the Council’s involvement with them constituted grant funding for room hire for their meetings and funding towards running costs. The Mayor advised that he would be visiting Unterhaching in July as part of  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC243