Issue - meetings

Questions by Members

Meeting: 19/07/2023 - Council (Item 92)

The following questions have been submitted by Members of Council to Members of the Executive, in accordance with the Council Procedure Rules (Constitution Part 5, rule 10).

Oral responses will be provided at the meeting.

Following receipt of the answer to their question, Members are entitled to ask one supplementary question at the meeting.

The Questions and Answers will be detailed in the minutes of the meeting.

Q1. Councillor Thomas Ashby to Councillor Joy Aitman, Executive Member for Stronger, Healthy Communities:

For some time, it has been the belief that both the play area and recreation ground on Ralegh Crescent would be transferred to Witney Town Council. It is disappointing that only the play area has been transferred. There is a significant amount of Section 106 Money from the Windrush Place development which is designated for an “Offsite MUGA” and the current location of the basketball court and green shelters would be ideal.

Enabling Witney Town Council to undertake a design and build procurement would mean that our young people in West Witney would have a new fantastic outdoor space built reasonably quickly. Now that West Oxfordshire District Council have not transferred the land, what are the plans to procure a MUGA for Ralegh Crescent?

Q2. Councillor Julian Cooper to Councillor Duncan Enright, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Economic Development:

Can the Executive portfolio holder for Tourism (Visitor Economy) please update the Council as to what progress is being made to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Sir Winston Churchill’s birth in November 2024?

Q3. Councillor Jane Doughty to Councillor Alaric Smith, Executive Member for Leisure and Major Projects:

The Town Centre office has been closed since May with no indication displayed on the window as to when the office is reopening. Please can you tell me the reopening date?, and in the meantime, what provision is being made for residents who do not have access to the internet and need to speak to an officer in customer service face to face?

Q4. Councillor Martin McBride to Councillor Joy Aitman, Executive Member for Stronger, Healthy Communities:

The District Council owned Kilkenny Country Park is still closed to the public. Many people used to travel to this park and it had a fantastic reputation as a great destination to visit. This has very quickly changed and is disappointing that after several site visits by officers and members, the park is still out of use. Can you give a date for when the repairs will be carried out?

Q5. Councillor Michele Mead to Councillor Lidia Arciszewska, Executive Member for Environment:

Carterton has suffered with many streets not having their bins collected. This has gone on for four consecutive weeks. Why has this problem gone on for so many weeks, and what action are you taking to improve the service?

Q6. Councillor Hugo Ashton to Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of the Council:

With regards to the requirement for Voter ID at last May’s elections, ... view the full agenda text for item 92

Minutes:

Questions by Members, as listed on the agenda, and the responses to those questions, which had been circulated in advance, were taken as read. The Chair invited the questioners to ask a supplementary question and then invited the relevant Executive Members to respond. The questions and responses were as follows:

Q1 – Councillor Thomas Ashby, to Councillor Joy Aitman, Executive Member for Stronger, Healthy Communities.

A1 – Officers meet with Officers from Witney Town Council every month to monitor progress transferring playgrounds and sports facilities to the Town Council as well as using s.106 funding to deliver new facilities like the proposed MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) in West Witney. Because of the nature of the s.106 agreement for the proposed MUGA, Officers from the District and Town Council are working together to deliver this facility. The intention is for West Oxfordshire District Council to transfer the land of the proposed MUGA to Witney Town Council in the future.

Q1a – When the play area was transferred to Witney Town Council, the Ralegh Crescent Recreation Field was not transferred also. Can a date be given for when this will be done, so that the dedicated Section 106 money can be spent quicker than it would be here at WODC?

A1a (answered by Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of the Council) – I believe a written reply is needed to full address this detailed question, and that it needs a very precise answer. So we will get that to you very quickly, in light of what you said about expedition, and on that basis, a written reply will come.

Q2 – Councillor Julian Cooper, to Councillor Duncan Enright, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Economic Development.

A2 – As of yet, we are not aware of any plans to commemorate the anniversary locally or nationally. Blenheim Palace have indicated that they intend to run related activity - though as yet no information is available.

The Tourism and/or Communications Teams will promote any relevant events.

Q2a – I would like to ask the Deputy Leader of ... view the full minutes text for item 92

Issue - meetings

Questions by Members

Meeting: 19/07/2023 - Council (Item 92)

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