Agenda

To receive nominations for the position of Chair/Mayor for the civic year 2025/26 and to elect the Chair/Mayor.

To receive nominations for the position of Deputy Chair/Mayor for the civic year 2025/26 and to elect the Deputy Chair/Mayor.

To note and confirm the Rev’d Dr Hester Jones as Mayor’s Chaplain for the Council term.

To receive nominations for the position of Leader of Witney Town Council for the council year and to elect the Leader.

To receive nominations for the position of Deputy Leader of Witney Town Council for the Council year and to elect the Deputy Leader.

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 30(d)(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.

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.

To approve and adopt the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 14 April 2025 in accordance with Standing Order 18 including questions on the minutes as to the progress of any item.

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.

To consider whether to create any new Council Committees in accordance with Standing Order 30.

To formally adopt the timetable of Council Committee meetings for the 2025/26 municipal year.

To consider whether any Committee terms of reference should be reviewed for the municipal year 2025/26.

Due to the proposed Committee changes, the scheme of delegation will be reviewed ahead of the next meeting on 23 June 2025.

To receive and consider the report of the Deputy Town Clerk, and appoint Members to the Standing Committees, Sub-Committees, Working Parties, Task & Finish Groups and elect Chairs for the municipal year 2025/26.

To receive and consider the report of the Deputy Town Clerk and appoint Members to Advisory Committees & External Bodies/Organisations and elect Chairs for the municipal year 2025/26.

To review any Council policies, if appropriate in accordance with Standing Order 11

To receive and consider the report of the Deputy Town Clerk and accompanying Standing Orders Review.

To note the Council’s current Financial Regulations are under review and stand adjourned until the Policy, Governance & Finance Committee scheduled for 9 June 2025.

To reaffirm adoption of the Council’s Code of Conduct (attached). The code of conduct has been adopted by Oxfordshire Councils as a standard model and there are no proposed changes.

To receive the annual attendance list for Town Councillors during the municipal year 2024-25.

It should be noted Members are expected to attend all meetings they are summonsed for however they are volunteers and may not be able to attend for a variety of reasons such as ill health or caring commitments.