On Wednesday, there was the first ‘ordinary’ meeting of the town council since the Mayor Making.

The first real debate was about council nominees to 4 outside community groups that had not been decided at Mayor making. They were…

1. Earth Trust
2. Fair Trade Group
3. Abingdon and District Twin Town Society (ADTTS)
4. Abbey Fish Ponds

For the Earth Trust both Conservatives and Lib-dems put forward a candidate. The vote was 10 to 10 and the Mayor cast his deciding vote for the Conservative nominee – continuing the trend of the mayor Making.

For the Fair Trade Group it was said that the new council’s policy on Fair Trade needed to be decided and there was to be a discussion later on that. So that was postponed.

It was said by the Conservative leader of the council that no town council representative was wanted by the twin towns society ADDTS where the council nominee was sometimes seen as an irritant.

On Abbey Fish Ponds the leader thought no representative was needed, but others argued that that it was useful for a councillor to be involved in the wildlife space run by BBOWT (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust) at the Abbey Fish Ponds – to help mediate with neighbouring houses who sometimes encroach. At the vote 2 Conservatives voted with the Lib-Dems to nominate a councillor to the Abbey Fish Ponds and then a Lib-Dem candidate was elected – bucking the trend.

About 30 people took part in a big community litter pick in South Abingdon today. This picture was taken at the lunch break showing a group of lads who got involved in the project thanks to the Abingdon Bridge youth centre – whose leader is in red behind.

PCSO Chris Cochlane organised the litter pick, and beside him is Neil and Linda Boston – who have been married 32 years today. Neil arranged for a team of Community Payback people to be involved and they did much of Saxton Road and Reynolds Way.

Ray Ball who runs the Vineyard Church and the Friday South Abingdon youth club was also there. The area looks spick and span now.

If it was any nearer, the coal burning Didcot A power station would dwarf the methane burning power plant at Sutton Wick landfill – near Abingdon. But for about six months of the year that little power plant more than holds its own when it comes to generating power. It is only economical to run Didcot A over the winter and so it gets shut down during the summer.