Agenda and draft minutes

To consider apologies and reasons for absence.

Committee members who are unable to attend the meeting should notify the Committee Clerk derek.mackenzie@witney-tc.gov.uk prior to the meeting, stating the reason for absence.

Standing Order 8(e)(v) permits the appointment of substitute Councillors to a Committee whose role is to replace ordinary  ...  view the full agenda text for item SC515

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D Edwards Hughes and A Bailey, Councillors D Temple and R Crouch attended respectively as substitutes.

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.

Councillor T Ashby declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest in Agenda item 7 due to his connection with Witney Buttercross Scouts.

Councillor R Smith declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8 owing to the connection with the provider of the detached Youth Services provision through the church she attended.

Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC516

a)      To receive and consider the minutes of the Stronger Communities Committee held on 14 July 2025.

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

The minutes of the meeting of the Stronger Communities Committee held on 14 July 2025 were received.

SC415 – A correction was requested to clarify that the market had not been sold but rather a new operator had been appointed to run the market.

Resolved:

That, the minutes of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC517

During the following item Cllr A Mubin arrived at 6:05pm.

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 25.  Matters raised shall relate to the following items on the agenda.

The Committee adjourned for this item.

The Committee received representations from a Director of West Oxfordshire Community Transport concerning Agenda Item 12 along with further representation from the Chair of Witney Chamber of Commerce concerning Agenda Item 11, The Station regarding Agenda Item 8 and Witney Music Festival on Agenda  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC518

To receive and consider the report of the R.F.O concerning the financial position of items under the remit of this Committee.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) detailing income and expenditure for budgets which were the responsibility of the Committee.

The Town Clerk noted that the Council would be considering its budget during the next cycle of meetings, and that the RFO’s report had  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC519

The Committee received and considered the report of the Communications & Community Engagement Officer (C&CEO).

The Committee received and considered the report of the Communications & Community Engagement Officer.

Members agreed that the Communication Survey should be rerun in order to establish which means of communication were most appropriate for residents. It was further agreed that this be included as part of the next resident’s annual  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC520

To receive and consider the report of the Communications & Community Engagement Officer.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Communications & Community Engagement Officer (C&CEO).

Members were pleased to hear updates on the variety of subjects included in the Officers report and were in agreement with the proposals to support and promote the Orange the World, International Men’s Day, World  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC521

To receive the notes of the Witney Forum held on 24 June 2025.

The Committee Clerk apologised for the inclusion of the Witney Forum notes as these had been presented and noted at the meeting of this Committee on 21 July 2025.

During the following Agenda Item.

Cllr J Treloar left the meeting briefly between 7:25 and 7:28pm

A Member of the public joined the meeting at 7:30pm

To receive and consider the report of the Deputy Town Clerk.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Deputy Town Clerk along with the earlier participation from the representative of The Station.

Members acknowledged the updates provided on the Youth Services grant allocations and welcomed the way in which the grant allocations had been dealt with.

The Committee welcomed  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC523

To receive an update on the Youth Council from the Administrative Assistant – Communications & Engagement.

The Committee received the report of the Communications & Engagement Administrative Assistant regarding the recent activity of the Youth Council.

Members were informed of two new additions to the Youth Council, along with two further potential members. It was hoped that, with the continued support and guidance of Officers, Youth Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC524

Cllr A Mubin left the meeting at 7:34pm

To receive and consider the report of the Project Officer.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Project Officer which covered the upcoming Christmas activity for 2025.

Members discussed the options for the distribution of the Social Value Fund, provided via the Christmas Lights contract and agreed the charities supported in 2024 should once again be the recipients  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC525

Cllr A Mubin rejoined the meeting at 7:40pm

To receive and consider the report of the Deputy Town Clerk.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Deputy Town Clerk along with the earlier participation from the Chair of the Witney Chamber of Commerce.

Members discussed the reformation of the Witney Town Centre Forum as they felt it important to work with West Oxfordshire District Council, Cotswold Markets,  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC526

Cllr D Enright left the meeting at 7:45pm

To receive and consider a request for an increase to the Annual Grant for West Oxfordshire Community Transport (WOCT).

The Committee received the request from West Oxfordshire Community Transport along with representation from a Director of WOCT earlier in the meeting. The request was for an increase to the annual grant awarded by the Council.

Members were advised of a correction to the amount being requested. The letter had  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC527

Resolved

That, Standing Order 5(w) be suspended in order to allow the meeting to continue as it had now lasted for two hours.

To receive further requests for salt bins. (Minute SC417 Stronger Communities 14 July 2025 relates)

The Committee received and considered the proposed sites for additional grit bins.

The proposed sites for three bins to be installed along Centenary Way on the new Windrush Place Estate had been provisionally discussed with Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) Winter Services team, however as the roads were yet to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC529

To receive and consider the report of the Venue & Events Officer.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Venue & Events Officer which provided details of the past and upcoming events held on the Council’s land.

Members heard that the subsidised lettings budget had been oversubscribed in 2025/26, and that requests for 2026/27 were expected to rise further, partly due  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC530

Three Members of the Public left at 8:08pm

At the discretion of the Chair the consideration of the budget request did not take place under Agenda Item 8 and was discussed independently.

The Committee heard that the request was to increase the current funding by £10,400 from £18,000 to £28,400 which was broadly similar to the original award  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC531