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.ukprior 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 H492

An apology for absence was received from Councillor A Bailey.

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 from Members or Officers.

a) To receive and consider the minutes of the Halls, Cemeteries and Allotments Committee held on 7 July 2025;

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

The minutes of the Halls, Cemeteries & Allotments Committee meeting held on 7 July 2025 were received.

H401 – Members were updated that the no cycling signage at St Mary’s Church had been cleaned by the Town Council and Officers had forwarded a request to Oxfordshire County Council for review.

Resolved:  ...  view the full minutes text for item H494

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.

There was no public participation.

To receive and consider the report of the Operations Manager.

With the permission of the Chair, this item was moved up the agenda so the members of public could hear the discussion and outcome.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Operations Manager who also provided a verbal update.

Members were pleased to hear that following confirmation the  ...  view the full minutes text for item H496

The two members of the public left the meeting at 6:10pm

To receive and consider the report of the Operations Manager.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Operations Manager which was also raised up the agenda.  The officer  provided a detailed explanation of the options under consideration.

Members heard of the obstacles faced by both the operations team and visitors to the cemetery and how these would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item H497

The Operation Manager left the meeting at 6:30pm

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.

Members welcomed that the net expenditure for budget cost centres under the Committees remit stood at 18.4% for the 1^st Quarter.

The RFO  ...  view the full minutes text for item H498

The RFO left the meeting at 7:06pm

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

The Committee received and considered the report of the Venue & Events Officers along with a verbal update from the Head of Estates & Operations.

Members discussed the options available to relaunch the seat sponsorship and were eager to proceed without delay, feeling that the launch ahead of Christmas would provide an  ...  view the full minutes text for item H499

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

The Committee received and considered the report of the Venue & Events Officer.

Members were pleased to see the attendances and received a summary of the diverse range of events that had either taken place or were planned for the coming months, along with customer feedback from the 1863 Café.

They  ...  view the full minutes text for item H500