In the Parish Meeting, Abingdon Town Council provide updates of its work over the the last year. Each committee chair reports back on the work of their committee to members of the electorate who attend. This year there were 8 members of the public and Sophie Grubb from the Abingdon Herald.
A new council were elected on 7th May 2015, comprising 10 Conservative, 8 Liberal Democrats, and 1 Independent.
Key Issues from the Chairman of Finance and General Purposes:
Guildhall: the council could not get funds for the more ambitious plans they had before the election. None of the commercial partners were able to bring in sufficient funds, and their operating model was not compatible with the continued public use of the building.
Town Planning: The town council has set aside £10,000 towards a Neighbourhood Plan that could end up costing £70,000.
Lodge Hill four-way interchange: costs range from £8m to £13m. The North Abingdon housing estate could bring in £9.6m in developer funding.
Bury Street: Aberdeen Assset Management have asked to be released from their commitment to spend around £50m on redeveloping the Charter. They have not found investment partners. The District Council are asking that instead they upgrade the Co-op and Poundland shops.
Budget: 4.54% increase in Council Tax precept for the Town Council. Guildhall Project to cost £2,184,000 of which £934,000 will be a loan.
2 new Residents’ parking wardens have been employed. The County Council has come up with a better deal to keep this scheme going.
Key Issues from Amenities and Recreation:
90 new trees have been planted in the cemetery
Negotiations about a site for a new cemetery are happening confidentially
Some of the 8 Town Council play areas had safety surfaces improvements
New town signs will be going up
Town fisheries being reviewed
Abingdon in bloom successful again
Key issues from Community Services Committee:
A 2nd monthly Farmers Market has been allowed
Monday Market will be given better publicity
Markets are seen as a way of increasing footfall not a money generator for the council
Market Place was booked on 156 days last year
Grants process being revamped
23rd April – Clubs and Societies Day
Key issues from Guildhall Committee:
Plan includes:
Groundfloor entrance and cafe area – glazed at front
Removal of ramp and old steps
Improved access from Bridge Street
Stage moved to other end and Abbey Hall soundproofed
Prices for hire likely to come down after comparison with Didcot and Wantage
Previous hirers are being kept up to date with plans to entice them back
Museum
Mousehole opened as cafe
20 volunteers now help
Jane Bowen – curator since the re-opening in 2012 – has retired.
Lift now working and there are plans to cover it to stop rain getting in to the mechanism
Weather Vane to have scaffolding removed shortly
Planning
Considered 281 plans
40 members of the public came to speak
Stopped Drayton development on 3 occasions for not abiding by conditions
Town Matters raised by members of the public
Town bus service to be axed. Will the town council support a community group setting up a community bus as is happening in Witney? Town Council are happy to talk but have no budget.
Children’s Centres. Scope for communities to get share of funding to keep centres open. Will Town Concil get involved? This is a County Council matter.
‘… The District Council are asking that instead they upgrade the Co-op and Poundland shops …’
There we go again … a District Council Imagination Bypass. Just what Abingdon needs … a massive rise in unoccupied retail space … there’s bound to be massive demand from the likes of Harrods, John Lewis, etc for an out-reach store …
Who’s renegotiating with Aberdeen Asset Management? The same people at Abingdon Asset-Stripping Management (aka The Vale) who couldn’t argue their way out of a brown paper bag and gave progressively swinging discounts on the price paid for The Old Goal?
Letting Aberdeen Asset Management off the hook for a £50 million commitment is worth more than the basic refurb of these units. I would have thought a very large slug of money to pay for a proper cinema would have been more the mark.
Of course, The Vale have told us that any money made in Abingdon won’t necessarily be spent in Abingdon. Perhaps there’s more of Aberdeen’s ‘compensation’ going to be spent elsewhere to The Vale’s liking.
If there’s going to be a unitary council the last people we want involved at any level is The Vale.
Thanks for this Backstreeter. Can anyone point me to information on which bus services are being axed? I no longer live in Abingdon, but my elderly mother, who does, relies on them to remain independent. Depending on which bus routes go we’ll either have to stump up for a regular taxi or she’ll have to move. I guess this may be the same for other elderly people?
Can anyone tell me what the Neighbourhood Plan that will cost £70,000 is hoping to achieve? The South Abingdon Residents Planning Group fell flat on its face. In my opinion it ended up being an exercise on paper and did not energise and involve residents. Will this neighbourhood plan only involve the few?
Janet – IF tthe TC decides to go for a NP they would have to involve the wider community – genuine public engagement from the outset (not just consultation on proposals already dreamed up) is a requirement. Also the big difference between that and a Community-Led Plan is that a NP has the same force as a Local Plan I.e it is binding, whereas a CLP has no force.
However, it was made quite clear last night that the TC are not convinced at this stage that a NP is worth doing – they are talking about a CLP which might later be used as the basis for a NP….
there is an obvious and easy solution to this:
Aberdeen Asset Management:
“Please can we be released from our commitment to spend around £50m on redeveloping the Charter?”
The Veil:
“No. You can’t”.
…the things about commitments….is you are committed.
Dan The Man speaks … only one problem … The Veil doesn’t have the balls.
…is that why they’ve been trying to offload the tennis courts?
Or better still…..”Yes Mr Aberdeen Angus Manager…you can be released to let someone who cares about our town take it on…that will cost you £45 million!” “Put up or Pay up!!!”
Julian…I think you are talking “Bull”…it’s Aberdeen Asset Management….
Daniel, you’ll probably find they have changed their name again by now… Scottish widows/Aberdeen Asset Management/ Aberdeen Angus Manager/ Aberdeen Anger Management / Abingdon Asset Strippers…whatever they are called this week, you can see it already, the town is going to get shafted…..AGAIN!!!
4.5% council tax increase vs negligible inflation. Sadly i think the bill for the new village hall is starting to hit our pockets
Bit of deja vu, the District Council claimed they had to sell the Old Goal at a discount given the property climate at that time. If they only had waited a few years, they could have raised millions more. If only the District council could hold out a few more years on the Charter redevelopment. However, it is far more likely they will accept a meagre settlement from Aberdeen Asset Management and spent this money outside Abingdon.