The Roysse Room hosted the Annual Parish Meeting this evening. This is a chance for the Town Council to report back to the people of Abingdon, and for people to ask questions. There were only 14 in the audience and some of those were Councillors, but it was still an interesting meeting.

Topics Mentioned by the Leader of the Council…

A government loan for £30K to set up a Abingdon Business Improvement District (BID) Project has been approved. This would allow local businesses to improve the local economy by paying a small increase to business rates (1-2%). A BID Company could be set up by April 2015 if the majority of local businesses vote for it, and would probably be the end of the Choose Abingdon Partnership in its current form.

From September 1st 2014, running the Outdoor Pool will be part of a much larger VOWHDC and South Oxfordshire DC management contract.

The Isis Open Air Theatre on Nags Head Island has been proposed by some enterprising local people as a new complex, but has a lot of planning work still to do.

Amenities Committee

• The Town Council took over full control of planting the flower beds in town last year.
• Adult play equipment was added to Box Hill Recreation Area, and improvements to surfacing were made at Masefield Crescent Play Area.
• There have been fewer people entering gardens for Abingdon in Bloom, so this competition will not run this year. Instead there will be a competition to design a floral display for the town.
• Fun in the Park and Music in the Park were very successful last year and will be on again on June 7th.
• The MG garden is just awaiting display boards and then will be officially opened.

Guildhall Committee

• More activities are being put on like Comedy and Vintage Fairs, and Atom (see tomorrow’s blog) to increase the range and number of people using the Guildhall.
• The committee are waiting the outcome of the HLF bid this month. If successful the plan for improvements to Guildhall including a cinema will progress to the next stage. If unsuccessful more fund raising will be needed.
• Town Council Offices will soon move to Roysse Court, and the Information Centre will move to the Guildhall Reception area.

County Hall Museum Committee:

• 30,000 visitors in first year. Targeting 25,000 in the second year. They want to encourage more repeat visits.
• Educational activities and additional exhibitions were highlighted. There is an MG exhibition from 18 March
• There is still the will to put in a lift to the sessions hall, but not currently the money.

Planning Committee:

• Disappointment that the planning inspector did not listen to local opinion about the 160 homes in South Abingdon.
• The Radley Road scheme was stopped.
• The committee are yet to discuss the latest proposals for 610 houses round the town, and even more in the surrounding area.