It came as news to me today that the date of the next general election has been fixed as May 7th 2015, which will coincide with the next District and Town Council elections, and be about nine months after the Scottish Independence Referendum.

Last night Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council held a special meeting to respond to the Local Government Boundary changes proposed for May 7th 2015. Individuals and organisations can make their own response on the Boundary Commission Website .

For twelve years we will have had the anomaly that Caldecott Road and Caldecott School are outside Caldecott Ward. If these recommendations are used that will no longer be the case, but Northcourt will be outside NorthCourt Ward, and Larkmead and John Mason will be in Fitzharris Ward, and Fitzharris School will be outside.

As to the general election the Oxford West and Abingdon Lib-Dems have just chosen the person they want to stand as their candidate – pictured above. So it is Goodbye Evan, and Hello Layla.

I read two short reports from last Thursday’s Town Council meeting on Twitter. But as I did not make the meeting myself here are a few quotes from Town Council committee papers and agendas from the past 2 months …

“Members were informed that work had commenced on installing a hard standing area in the MG Garden for the MG Car Club to display their cars. Members were pleased to hear that the benches, bollards and picnic table manufactured from recycled plastic had been ordered.”

“… in the first four months of opening, the number of visitors to the Museum had totalled 14,500 exceeded expectation.!”

“… need to balance the Museum being child friendly against making it “a playground”.

“Town Clerk stated that the Council did not have a licence for the sale of alcohol within the Museum. Members requested that this item be placed on the next agenda.”

“Church in Abingdon Twinning requested financial assistance for church visitors from Abingdon-on-Thames’ Twin Towns of Colmar, Schongau and Argentan to cover meals and farewell party. Grant not awarded.”

This Council objects to the recent proposals by the Boundary Commission for England for the new Parliamentary Constituency of Abingdon & Oxford North. In particular, the transfer of the Radley Ward from the constituency of Oxford West & Abingdon to the new constituency of Henley 

“However, the consensus of the meeting was that whilst the Bridge Street bin storage problem was an unfortunate one, the Roysse Court Gardens was not a suitable space for storing wheelie bins.”

“Members received and considered the annual report from the District Council in relation to the Abbey Meadow Open Air Swimming Pool in confidential session.”

“As previously reported the applications for Jubilee Parks has been approved and the legal work is proceeding.” (This covers Caldecott Rec. and Box Hill Walk)

“Fun in the Park will be on 1 June 2013.”

Nicola Blackwood MP, Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon, has arranged a public meeting on Saturday 24 November at 10am in Abingdon Guildhall, regarding the proposed development of 160 new houses off the Drayton Road in Abingdon.

Lots of people have been writing to Nicola on the subject, and this is a chance for people to air their views and hear what councillors and council officials have to say on the subject.

The first ever Police & Crime Commissioner Elections took place today in Abingdon and across the nation.

I voted at the Guildhall and was the only voter there at 8:10 p.m and so do not expect many people to be disenfranchised because of possible queues.

There were 6 candidates standing in the Thames Valley Police Area. The winning candidate will be accountable for how crime is tackled here.