Next came a district council report to the town council.
One subject of note was that the Yellow Submarine charity are waiting for the Charter vaccination centre to close and will then take possession of the space (could be at the end of March) and are looking at a major program of refurbishment. They are looking for some grant funding for quite a big project to make this space useful to disabled youngsters and teenagers. It will support those with learning difficulties or autism and also other community groups working in this general area.
The Town Council meeting proper then began. There was a minutes silence for Ewart Hemings, the ex Mayor and Freeman who died in December. Then councillors went through the committee papers one by one. This was also the meeting where the 2022/3 budget was set. Committee names have recently changed. The Museum and Guildhall committees are now part of the first committee to report and called Community Advisory Committee.
The Town Council have budgeted £52,410 for the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum (70th) Jubilee. Councillor Samantha Bowring, the leader of the council, said this is because the town of Abingdon has a strong interest in royal events. The highlight of most royal events in Abingdon is the Bun Throwing Ceremony. Councillor Bowring said, ‘Be assured! Buns will be thrown.’
There was £30,000 for an Integrated Youth Support Project. The next step is for a Youth Council to begin from Apr to Jun 2022.
A grant of £3,250 will be awarded to Radley Lakes towards the cost of the creation of an entry hub on Barton Fields, for the wider Radley Lakes area and the management of Barton Fields as a nature reserve.
Environment and Amenities Advisory Committee
A small task-based working group of four councillors was set up to look at improvements to play areas. £60,000 was put into the budget for this purpose.
The council is also putting together a biodiversity plan with the help of John Killick, an expert in Oxfordshire Flora living in Abingdon.
The finger point signs round town were discussed and are in need of attention.
Town Infrastructure Advisory Committee
Oxfordshire County Council are putting in camera enforcement of traffic restrictions and the first schemes are in Oxford. Abingdon could bid for some in a future allocation. One area suggested was the iron bridge at St Helen’s Wharf where drivers can often be seen going the wrong way over the one way bridge.
It was also agreed that the Town Clerk write to the County Council to request a blanket 20mph limit across Abingdon and a 30mph limit on the peripheral roads – Audlett Drive, Twelve Acre Drive, Dunmore Road, Copenhagen Drive and Colwell Drive. This would be subject to discussion with Oxfordshire County Council.
Finance, Governance and Asset Management
The budget was passed after a presentation by Councillor Samatha Bowring. This included some new items such as £8,346 towards changing CCTV in town to change from analogue to digital, and speed indicator signs £15,000. (There has been a nationwide move to reduce traffic and speed of traffic within towns for reasons of safety of the emissions and traffic flow, especially in those close to schools. For this to be successful it will need supporting infrastructure. So some of the developer funding for speed indicator signs.)
There was £30,000 funding to Abingdon Carousel, a base from which all kinds of family services can operate.
The council will be putting funding into a new community woodland. A site has been identified and there are volunteers able to help, and the plans for this project will be revealed later this year
The council’s net expenditure requirement is £1,830,659. Of that the precept (council tax) will raise £1,755,659, and grants and developer funding of £75,000. The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) or developer funding is a charge which can be levied by local authorities on new development in their area.
The current housing developments in the north of the town will mean an increase in the number of residents included in the Dunmore, Peachcroft and Fitzharris Wildmoor wards and so it requested that the district council be asked to review the distribution of membership between wards, within the context of a council membership of 19.
Finally there was a special motion. The council agreed to support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill, a private member’s bill currently going through parliament aimed at tackling the climate crisis and environmental disaster. It would enshrine in law a commitment to deliver policy and action in line with the latest science.
