The Annual Parish Meeting took place on March 26, 2025, from 7:00 to 9:23 p.m. in the Roysse Room, Abingdon.

Mayor Councillor Gabby Barody opened the meeting, welcoming attendees and emphasising her year’s theme of ‘inclusivity’, exemplified by the appointment of multi-faith chaplains. She reflected on key events, such as the Christmas Day Lunch at Peachcroft Christian Centre for those who might otherwise be alone, and announced a Twinning Conference from April 4–7, 2025, in Abingdon, where mayors from Abingdon’s twin towns will share experiences and strengthen connections.

Reports from the Town Council Committee Chairs followed, with full details available online at (https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/annual-parish-town-meeting-2025).

Councillor Neil Fawcett (Community Committee) discussed grants to local partnership organisations like The Abingdon Bridge, supporting young people, and Abingdon Carousel, aiding young families. He noted these partnerships deliver excellent value, achieving more than the council could alone and enabling groups to secure additional funding. He also confirmed that Fun and Music in the Park will revert to its previous format: a free morning for families followed by a paid music event, following feedback on last year’s full-day ticket model.

Councillor Colin Sanderson (Town Infrastructure) highlighted a survey of 88 bus shelters, many in poor condition, paving the way for a planned maintenance programme. He announced that repairs to town centre finger posts will begin next week. Adding bicycle racks to the Market Place is complicated by multiple stakeholders (three councils), with progress tied to a forthcoming road layout change around the area. Restoration of the Stratton Way underpass murals, the first project in the revamped public arts strategy, is also set to start soon.

Councillor Tom Greenaway (Environment and Amenities Committee) presented a report with images showcasing new exercise and playground equipment, the resurfaced Ock Valley Walk, and a flood container for sandbags. He highlighted the ‘Letters to Heaven’ postbox at Spring Road Cemetery, which gained widespread attention after going viral on social media, prompting a BBC Radio Oxford interview.

Councillor Jim Halliday (Finance, Governance and Asset Management) provided a figures-focused report, detailing a £2.24M budget for 2024/25, a £250,000 Abbey Hall roof repair (addressing asbestos and RAAC issues), and a 4.94% council tax rise for 2025/26—equivalent to £7.57 annually for a Band D household. The Abbey Hall work will be completed by March 31, 2025, allowing the Abbey Cinema to resume operations, though the hall is considered a liability, and the council is seeking legal advice on future options.

Councillor Mark Giddins (Planning) reported reviewing 144 planning applications and efforts to influence major projects, such as the South East Strategic Reservoir Option, to preserve Abingdon’s character.

Following the committee reports, Simon Hills, Chair of the Neighbourhood Planning Group, outlined the Neighbourhood Plan’s next steps: final adjustments by the Town Council following recent consultation and a recommendations report, further public consultation by Vale of White Horse District Council (VWHDC), review by a planning inspector, and a referendum. He cautioned that delays could arise due to a limited number of planning inspectors nationally.

Lucille Savin from the Abingdon Green Forum outlined the work of the Abingdon Carbon Cutters, and described the current 3 monthly focus of the Green Forum is sustainable food.

PCSO Ali Blood spoke on neighbourhood policing priorities in Abingdon, identifying the top three as tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, retail theft and fraud, and anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Penny Clover, representing the Royal British Legion, detailed plans for the 80th anniversary of VE and VJ Day, including ceremonies on May 8, 2025. The Town Council has opted against a traditional Bun Throw, instead exploring a fun, bun-throwing sporting event.

Several community groups delivered excellent presentations:
* The Abingdon Bridge
* Abingdon Damascus Youth Project
* Abingdon Carousel
* Friends of Abingdon Civic Society
* Guild of Town Criers
* One Planet Abingdon and One Planet Abingdon Youth
* Oxfordshire South and Vale Citizens Advice

Christ’s Hospital (submitted a report, unable to attend)
Be Free Young Carers (submitted a report, unable to attend)

Particularly moving were talks by young people who, having benefited from The Abingdon Bridge, now support their peers, and by Kate, a young woman from One Planet Abingdon’s youth group. Their reports are available online (https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/annual-parish-town-meeting-2025).

Finally, the discussion of town affairs was brief, addressing only pre-submitted questions:

Can you help accelerate work on the Oxford Road Roundabout? The response was complex and subject to change. Thames Water encountered a legacy sewer connection issue for a new estate, missing the permitted roadwork window. Developers and Thames Water are exploring alternatives, but priority A34 works may delay progress until 2026 if the new plan affects that junction.

Why was a 20 MPH speed indicator placed on a 30 MPH stretch of Oxford Road? Oxfordshire County Council recommended this, and their reasoning was provided.

What will the Town Council do to reduce dangers and maximise opportunities from the upcoming local government reorganisation? The Town Council has begun exploring this, and are reluctant to take on more responsibilities without resources. Hester Hands, the questioner, suggested a Town Council/Neighbourhood Forum, which councillors deemed worth considering.

Local government in Oxfordshire currently operates under a two-tier system. Four district councils and one city council manage services such as planning and waste collection, while Oxfordshire County Council oversees education and roads. However, the government is encouraging the creation of unitary authorities — one-tier councils that combine these responsibilities.

On February 24, 2025, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils wrote to West Berkshire Council, proposing a forum to explore the possibility of a new unitary authority. This follows public meetings where the idea received positive feedback.

At the same time, discussions are ongoing with other Oxfordshire councils about an alternative single county-wide unitary authority. West Berkshire are already a unitary council but not big enough. They will consider the Vale and South option as well as the option of combining with other Berkshire unitary councils.

Some Abingdon residents could well welcome this proposal, as it could revive historical ties to Berkshire. The Vale of White Horse was North Berkshire until 1974.

Typically, new unitary councils should serve populations of at least 500,000.

West Berkshire: 161,448 (2021)
Vale of White Horse: 138,913 (2021)
South Oxfordshire: 151,820 (2021)
Total population: 452,181 (2021)

The total population will have increased in the four years to 2025 but it would need to increase by almost 10% to be 500,000.

The plans for a care home on Copenhagen Drive, along with outline planning permission for homes to be built later, came to the vote this evening.

The planning application was brought before the Vale of White Horse District Council (VWHDC) planning committee this evening because Abingdon Town Council objected. Otherwise it would have been approved behind closed doors.

Two councillors and a local resident spoke against the plans, and the developer spoke for the plans. The resident expressed concerns about potential flooding. He cited the recent flooding at Larkmead School which he had traced back to the ditch nearby the development.

Concerns were also raised about the availability of GPs and dental services in the area. The Long Furlong Medical Centre had objected to the plans, but the local commissioning board did not.

Noise from the nearby A34 was another worry. However, the care home would have noise-reducing glass.

One councillor questioned the suitability of putting a care home in a place that he described as ‘out on a limb,’ away from local facilities.

There was also debate about whether a new care home was necessary, given the number of care homes in Abingdon. One councillor tried to argue that the local plan intended residential development and didn’t intend more care homes, but the council officer said the a care home counted as residential.

Some Abingdon councillors voted against the proposal, but the planning application was approved by a majority vote.

Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council met this evening, in the Roysse Room. The usual venue, the Magistrates’ Court, is currently being used by the cinema.

In the absence of the Mayor, the meeting was chaired by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Rawda Jehanli. The usual formalities of bringing in the mace, councillors wearing robes, and prayers were omitted. Councillors were seated around a square of tables.

Previous Meeting Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved. One matter arising was the Neighbourhood Plan, which was approved at the previous meeting and is now open for public consultation. Councillors were encouraged to urge residents in their wards to provide feedback on the plan as it will be an important planning document for the town.

Mayor’s Engagements:

One highlight was that the Mayor, Cllr Gabby Barody, and the Deputy Mayor visited Stowford House Care Home and Old Station House Care Home on Christmas Day. The Mayor also attended the Community Christmas lunch at Peachcroft Christian Centre, an event that provides a festive meal for local people who might otherwise spend Christmas alone. The Town Council had contributed a grant towards this event.

Oxfordshire County Council Report:

Cllr Fawcett, also a County Councillor, provided an update on recent developments at Oxfordshire County Council. The government has published a white paper on local government reorganisation, outlining a transition from three-tier to two-tier councils. Consequently, both the Vale of White Horse District Council and Oxfordshire County Council would not continue to exist in their current forms.

Oxfordshire County Council had expressed its preference for inclusion in the first group of councils to undergo this transition while still proceeding with County Council elections in May.

The government also intends to expand the regional mayor’s system across the UK.

Regarding flood response, the County Council is working to improve the current fragmented system. A summit meeting with the Environment Agency, County Council, District Council, and other agencies was held in December to clarify roles and responsibilities and enhance information dissemination about existing flood measures. A flood meeting near the Ladygrove Estate will be held tomorrow, attended by MP Layla Moran and other stakeholders.

District Councillors’ Report:

Cllr Forder expressed concerns regarding the government’s proposals for local government reorganisation, particularly the potential impact on rural areas. His preference would be to merge with similar areas and not an urban centre like Oxford.

He mentioned the Abbey Buildings Project, for which the National Lottery will soon make a decision. If approved, he emphasized the need for securing a budget allocation to support the project from the district council, as funding from local councils can leverage significant national investment towards the project.

Community Committee Report:

Cllr Fawcett highlighted the bigger grants awarded by the Town Council to key community partners:

Abingdon Carousel (£37,500)
Be Free Young Carers (£10,000)
Abingdon Damascus Youth Project (£12,500)
One Planet Abingdon Climate Emergency Centre (£14,000)
Oxfordshire South and Vale Citizens Advice (£23,000)
The Abingdon Bridge (£22,500)

Cllr Fawcett said that Abingdon Carousel would not exist today if the Town Council had not provided start-up funding following the County Council’s decision to close children and family centres. While the Town Council remains the largest grant provider, the proportion of funding from the Town Council has decreased.

Infrastructure Committee Report:

Cllr Sanderson thanked those who participated in the bus stop survey. The committee is exploring ways to improve the maintenance of bus stops, such as pressure washing and repainting.

The committee has adopted a public art strategy and wants input from all councillors about their preferred types of public art projects.

Finance, Governance and Asset Management Committee Report:

The Leader of the Finance, Governance and Asset Management Committee, Cllr Halliday, presented the budget for the 2025/26 financial year. He acknowledged the challenges, with external costs such as increased National Insurance contributions (+£23.8k), gas and electricity costs (+£43k), and insurance premiums (+£10.8k) impacting the budget.

£50k will be allocated towards the Abbey Buildings programme this year (£20k from CIL, developer funding, and £30k from reserves), with plans to allocate £50k annually for the next three years, totalling £200k. Such funding could leverage £5 million in additional funding if it goes ahead.

The precept, the amount added to council tax, will increase by 4.94%.

This budget does not include the costs associated with the Abbey Hall. Funding from the Vale of White Horse District Council, received during the transfer of the hall, can still be used but is nowhere near enough. Cllr Halliday noted that the building has a probable lifespan of 50 years and is currently 50 years old.

The budget was approved with one abstention.

Planning Committee Report:

Cllr Giddins presented the planning report, and began by saying, ‘Consultations! Consultations!  Consultations!.’ A lot of the planning committee’s work has been responding to the numerous consultations, including those related to the proposed development of the Culham No 1 Site, the Dalton Barracks development, and the reservoir. The council has responded to all consultations and monitored and responded to local planning applications. They also have a watching brief on the North Abingdon development where the work on the Oxford Road roundabout is incomplete, and the new play park at Kings Gate is not open, and the cycle path over the River Stert is incomplete. (He did not mention that the primary school in the plans for the North Abingdon development has not even started.) On the other hand, the A34 work on the Lodge Hill interchange is underway, although not visible yet.

Town Archivist’s Annual Report:

The council discussed the report by Town Archivist Jackie Smith. The Abingdon Herald has ceased publication of its ‘Heralding the Past’ column, and two of Jackie Smith’s articles have not yet been published. Councillors suggested that these articles be published on the Town Council website and potentially in the Town Crier. They also recommended obtaining permission to utilise all of Jackie Smith’s articles for future reference.

The members of the public (only me this time) had to leave the meeting as the council wanted to discuss a property matter – probably the Abbey Hall . The previous Town Council meeting was cancelled because they did not have the necessary information.