Agenda item

To receive and consider the confidential report of the Town Clerk relating to various property and legal matters.

The Committee received and considered the confidential report of the Town Clerk, circulated prior to the meeting, which included an update on the situation relating to the rent review of the Town Council’s rent for the Town Hall, Town House and Buttercross, and also the letting of the retail unit at 51 Market Square. 

The confidential report also contained information relating to a licence agreed in 2016 for a property in Vanner Road to have an access off of Council owned amenity land, and the fact that the property had now changed hands, the new owner was requesting the same permissions.  She had sought legal advice from the Council’s professional advisors which she relayed.

The Town Clerk updated the Committee on the recommendation the Halls, Cemeteries and Allotments Committee had made in respect of a request from its tenant in Langdale Hall to sub-let a room.  She also elaborated on the planning application the Climate, Biodiversity and Planning Committee had been considering for Witney East and the possible alternative access for Windrush Cemetery.  She suggested additional budget needed to be made in order to fund the internal road layout.

RECOMMENDED:             that the report be noted and:-

1.            that the rent negotiations for the Town Hall, Town House and Buttercross be delegated to the Town Clerk - and for her to put forward an annual rent of £1,000 more than currently paid in the first instance for consideration by the Trust along with inflationary increases thereafter;

2.            that 51 Market Square be retained in the medium term for public facing offices for

the Council’s own purposes, whilst the economic market picks up, subject to agreement by the Landlord;

3.            that the licence granted in 2016 for the property in Vanner Road be brought to an end and the former resident reinstates the wall as detailed in the licence.  That no further licences for this arrangement are considered;

4.            that the Council sets aside £25,000 for

future internal roadways and car park in the Windrush Cemetery in the 2021/22

budget.