Agenda item

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

Members received a verbal update from the Responsible Financial Officer which provided additional context to the Earmarked Reserve information published as part of the Annual Governance & Accountability Return considered by the Council at their meeting of 22 June. The Responsible Financial Officer outlined the current position of the Council's Earmarked Reserves and advised that further information would be presented to Members in September prior to the commencement of the precept setting process.

The Responsible Financial Officer also provided an update on the financial position of the West Witney project. Members heard that expenditure to date stood at £2,002,775, with an estimated £101,362 remaining to complete the project. The Leader thanked Officers for their work in ensuring that the overall project remained within the approved budget.

The Deputy Town Clerk presented a grant application from Witney Community Primary School, which had been carried forward from an earlier Committee cycle. Members felt that the proposed play equipment formed part of the school's core infrastructure and would primarily be available to pupils rather than the wider community. It was therefore considered not to meet the ethos of the Council's grant funding scheme, which sought to support projects offering wider community benefit and enrichment opportunities.

It was proposed by Cllr J Treloar, seconded by Cllr R Smith, that the application be refused. A vote followed, with ten votes in favour of refusal and two against.

Members also received updates on the grant awards received from Witney Town Charity towards accessibility improvements at Unterhaching Park and the replacement bus shelter at Oxford Hill.

The Council considered a request for a subsidised hire of the Corn Exchange for the annual Eco Fair at a cost of £210, which was agreed unanimously.

The Deputy Town Clerk further updated Members on changes to the financial contribution made by the Cogges Welfare Trust towards the upkeep of the Buttercross Clock. Members noted the resolution to address the future management of this long-standing arrangement.

A request submitted by the Biodiversity & Green Spaces Officer for the installation of protective fencing at the Country Park was also considered. Members heard that the fencing was intended to reduce anti-social behaviour and protect wildlife habitats. Concerns were raised regarding ground stability in the proposed location; however, it was noted that any such matters would be addressed by officers as part of the operational delivery of the works. Approval was made for a budget of £1,200 to be set.

Finally, the Deputy Town Clerk provided a verbal update regarding a request from The Station Youth Outreach Service to deliver six parenting courses in the Gallery Room commencing in September. Following discussion, a vote was taken and the proposal in principle was approved by eleven votes in favour and one against.

Resolved:

1.       That, the verbal update regarding the Council's Earmarked Reserves and the current financial position of the West Witney Project be noted and,

2.       That, the grant application from Witney Community Primary School be refused and,

3.       That, the grant awards made by Witney Town Charity towards accessibility improvements at Unterhaching Park and the Oxford Hill bus shelter be noted and,

4.       That, the request for a subsidised hire of the Corn Exchange for the annual Eco Fair at a cost of £210 be approved and,

5.       That, the proposed arrangement regarding the future contribution towards the upkeep of the Buttercross Clock be approved and,

6.       That, a budget of £1,200 be allocated for the installation of protective fencing with officers authorised to determine the most appropriate method of installation and,

7.       That, The Station Youth Outreach Service be permitted in principle to deliver six parenting courses as subsidised lettings in the Gallery Room commencing in September.