Agenda item

To receive and consider a request for an increase to the Annual Grant for West Oxfordshire Community Transport (WOCT).

The Committee received the request from West Oxfordshire Community Transport along with representation from a Director of WOCT earlier in the meeting. The request was for an increase to the annual grant awarded by the Council.

Members were advised of a correction to the amount being requested. The letter had stated an increase from £21,000 to £26,000, however the current level of grant was £23,500 and therefore an increase of only £2,500 was requested.

Several members spoke passionately about the essential service that WOCT provided and their concerns if the additional funding was not provided, it was highlighted that many residents, particularly the elderly relied on the services of WOCT to complete their daily activities.

The Town Clerk advised that funds could be found to support the request from other unpent budget lines with an example of the Water safety budget being given.  She also suggested that the timing of the grant was an important factor, specifically whether it applied for the Council’s full financial year or was pro-rated over a shorter period, in which case the actual amount awarded this financial year would be less than £2,500.

The Chair spoke of his concerns at the awarding of the grant and proposed that no award be made and that he writes to Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) asking that they fund the gap that existed. The proposal was seconded by Cllr J Treloar.

An alternative proposal to award the additional grant of £2,500 was proposed by Cllr R Smith, seconded by Cllr R Crouch.

A vote was taken for Members to agree to one of the two proposals, a request from Cllr G Meadows asked that the names of those voting be taken. The result of the vote was:

• No additional grant award – For: Cllrs A Mubin, J Treloar, D Temple and T Ashby.
• An award of £2,500 – For: Cllrs R Smith, G Meadows and R Crouch.

It was therefore agreed that no award be made and that the Chair write to OCC to request their intervention to consider funding the gap in WOCT’s needs.

Recommended:

1. That, the request from WOCT be noted and,
2. That, the additional grant award be not agreed and the annual grant remain at £23,500 and,
3. That, the Chair writes to OCC requesting their consideration of additional financial support to WOCT.