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 Councillors  ...  view the full agenda text for item PR614

An apology for absence was received from Councillor J Aitman, Councillor R Crouch attended as a substitute.

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 adopt and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Parks & Recreation Committee held on 01 September 2025;

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

The minutes of the Parks & Recreation Committee meeting held on 1 September 2025 were received.

Resolved:

That, the minutes of the Parks & Recreation Committee meeting held on 1 September 2025 be approved as a correct record of the meeting and be signed by the Chair.

Cllr D Temple joined the meeting at 6:08pm

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 representation from the Chair of Witney Wolves Basketball Club concerning Agenda Item 6. Members heard about the issues faced by the Club due to a lack of suitable facilities for them to train and host games and inconsistent access to those  ...  view the full minutes text for item PR617

To receive and consider the report of the Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) with an update on the current year’s work programme relating to Capital and Special Revenue Projects; as well as projects identified during the course of the year for inclusion as Revenue Growth Items or Special Revenue Projects in  ...  view the full agenda text for item PR618

With the permission of the Chair, this item was moved up the agenda so the members of public present could hear the discussion and outcome relating to potential funding of improvements to the Basketball Court at King Georges Field and outdoor court adjacent to Witney Leisure Centre.

Members received and  ...  view the full minutes text for item PR618

All Members of the Public left at 6:29pm

To receive and consider the report of the Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) and the Draft Revised Revenue Budget for 2025/26 and Draft Budget for 2026/27.

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 were provided with a verbal explanation of the report with the RFO answering their questions as they arose which included the potential for  ...  view the full minutes text for item PR619

Having considered individually the proposal for improvements to basketball courts the Committee considered the remaining points of the Responsible Financial Officers report.

Members heard of the proposed improvements to Burwell Hall which would be commenced with the installation of new lockers, additionally they received an update on the introduction of  ...  view the full minutes text for item PR620

During the Budget Setting Cycle the Council reviews its Fees and Charges for various facilities and services it operates.

Included is the schedule of charges in respect of the assets and services which fall under the responsibility of this Committee, and the Committee is requested to review and approve or  ...  view the full agenda text for item PR621

The Committee received and considered the proposed recreational charges for 2026-27 as part of the budget setting process.

The RFO explained the reasoning behind the proposed increase of 3.8 -4% to each of the charges, Officers would further review the charges sheet and remove those which no longer were relevant  ...  view the full minutes text for item PR621

The Responsible Financial Officer left the meeting at 7:05pm

To receive the report of the Operations Manager with an accompanying STRI (formerly the Sports Turf Research Institute) report following the evaluation of the Council grassed sports provision.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Operations Manager which was accompanied by a report on the Council’s grass sports pitches by STRI (formerly the Sports Turf Research Institute).

Members also received a verbal report from the Head of Estates & Operations on the saliant points of the STRI  ...  view the full minutes text for item PR622

Cllrs D Edwards-Hughes & D Temple left the meeting at 7:37pm.

Also, during the following item Cllr A Bailey left the meeting between 7:42pm and 7:46pm

To receive and consider the report of the Project Officer concerning the progress of projects under the remit of this Committee being undertaken by the Council or Stakeholders.

The Committee received the report of the Project Officer providing an update on the various major projects that the Council was currently engaged with.

Members were pleased to hear the positive progress with the West Witney Project and welcomed the upcoming meeting on 10^th November to appoint the contractor.  ...  view the full minutes text for item PR623