Agenda item

To receive and consider the report of Witney Chamber of Commerce which was facilitated by the Council earlier this year.

The Committee received the report of the Deputy Town Clerk which outlined the results of a report provided to the Council by Witney Chamber of Commerce (WCoC).

It was agreed that the Chair should extend an invitation personally to the Chair of WCoC in order that the Committee hear first-hand of the issues faced.

Members thanked the Officers for facilitating the survey on behalf of the Witney Chamber of Commerce and acknowledged the importance of combining the results with that gathered from the under 18’s survey to create a clearer roadmap for assisting witney’s business community.

It was mentioned that Witney needed to be seen as a destination and not simply a convenience town, the subject of coach parking was raised as this had been an issue over the preceding weeks and no provision existed.

In respect of the recommendation to consider the re-establishment of the Witney Forum to replace the Witney Town Partnership it was unanimously agreed that the Forum be resurrected and administered by the Town Council in order to ensure the necessary traction.

It was highlighted by a Member who was also a Councillor for West Oxfordshire District Council, that he hoped the sale of the town market rights would breathe new life and create a connection with the Marriotts shopping area; the buyer of the market had been successful in other towns where it ran markets.

In response to a Member’s question it was confirmed that the project to review wayfinding around the town was also a casualty of the continued delays to the High Street and Market Square redevelopment. It was hoped that this along with a strategy to deal with the unkempt nature of the centre, such as the flyposting of bus shelters and utility boxes could be looked at again and improvements implemented.

The Committee was encouraged to consider the importance of making a submission to the West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2041 which would highlight the need for improvement in order to support the town’s business community.

Recommended:

1.      That, the report be noted and,

2.      That, an invitation be extended by the Chair to his counterpart at Witney Chamber of Commerce to attend a meeting to discuss plans in person. And,

3.      That, Officers draft a framework of how the Council can work collaboratively with WCoC for presentation at a future meeting.