Agenda
PDF 115 KBVenue: Council Chamber, Council Offices, Woodgreen, Witney, Oxfordshire OX28 1NB. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services
Media
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Apologies for Absence To receive any apologies for absence. |
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Minutes of Previous Meeting To approve the minutes of the meetings held on 22 July 2026. Additional documents: |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations from Members of Council on any items to be considered at the meeting. |
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Receipt of Announcements To receive any announcements from The Chair, Leader, Members of the Executive, Head of Paid Service, Director of Finance or Director of Governance. |
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Participation of the Public To receive any submissions from members of the public, in accordance with the Council’s Public Participation Rules.
The deadline for submission is 2.00pm, two clear working days before the meeting. |
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Questions by Members The following questions have been submitted by Members of Council to Members of the Executive, in accordance with the Council Procedure Rules (Constitution Part 5A, Rule 12).
Written responses will be circulated to Members and published on the Council’s website at least one working day prior to the meeting. A Member submitting a question is entitled to ask one supplementary question at the meeting which must arise directly from the question or the response to it.
The supplementary questions and answers will be detailed in the minutes of the meeting.
Question 1: From Councillor Thomas Ashby to Councillor Tim Sumner, Executive Member for Arts, Culture and Sports Please can the Executive Member provide a detailed update on the following West Witney Projects:
· Witney 3G at West Witney Sports Ground · Adventure Play Area (Windrush Place S106 Funding) · Ralegh Crescent MUGA
The lack of serious progression is a serious concern amongst residents, therefore a detailed update on all three will be greatly appreciated.
Question 2: From Councillor Thomas Ashby to Councillor Cllr Alaric Smith, Executive Member for Finance For several years I have been working to secure the sensible and sustainable estate maintenance Deer Park requires. While we made progress initially, the last few years have seen a significant decline in substantial works.
On 14 January this year, I was informed that substantial works would commence in Deer Park this autumn. However, I was recently informed that due to some trees failing because of the hot weather, some of these works may now be delayed until the start of the next financial year. This is unacceptable. The start of the financial year is April which is well within the nesting season and would therefore mean the works could not commence until this time next year.
Please can the Executive Member ensure, by working with the Chief Executive and Tree Officer, that Deer Park is prioritised for the estate maintenance it requires. Hundreds of thousands of pounds have been spent on subsidence claims over the years, and residents are rightly concerned that largely, tree pruning has not been undertaken significantly in 30 years.
Question 3: From Councillor Thomas Ashby to Councillor Andy Graham, Leader of the Council Please can the Executive Member outline, in detail, what discussions/engagement has been held with Town and Parish Councils regarding ‘Asset Transfer’ ahead of Local Government Reform. Many councils are suffering from anxiety by not knowing what assets and services may be heading their way, therefore, any direction the Executive Member can outline would be greatly appreciated
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Reports from Officers |
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Members' Allowances Scheme for 2027/28 That Council resolves to: 1. Request that the Independent Remuneration Panel reports to Council in early 2027 to make recommendations about a Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2027/28 and up to three subsequent years. |
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Community Governance Review proposal Purpose To present proposals for undertaking a Community Governance Review focused on the civic boundaries of Carterton, Chipping Norton and Witney, in response to full Council on 28 January 2026 agreeing an amended motion titled “Local Governance Review: Parish and Town Boundary Review for West Oxfordshire”.
Recommendations That Council resolves to:
Additional documents: |
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National Scheme of Delegation of Planning Functions Purpose To put arrangements in place to amend the Constitution when national changes to the functioning of Planning Committees in England come into effect (on 31 October 2026).
Recommendations That Council resolves to: 1. Agree that a 12-Member Planning Committee will replace the Strategic Planning Committee and Development Management Sub-Committee following the October meeting cycle and that the Planning Committee will meet on the dates currently scheduled for the Development Management Sub-Committee. 2. Delegate authority to the Director of Governance and Regulatory Services to appoint Members to the Planning Committee in accordance with political proportionality and the nominations made by political groups. 3. Agree that the Chair of the Planning Committee will be the “nominated member” under the Regulations with the Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee as substitute, and that the Head of Planning will be the “nominated officer”, with the Development Management Manager the substitute. 4. Agree that the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee will be paid the Special Responsibility Allowances payable to the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Development Management Sub-Committee under the Members Allowances Scheme 2023/24 to 2026/27. 5. Agree that all own-interest applications will be considered by the nominated member and nominated officer for referral to the Planning Committee, meaning that no own-interest applications will automatically be delegated to officers. 6. Delegate authority to the Director of Governance and Regulatory Services, in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee and the Chair of the Constitution Working Group, to update the Constitution (including parts 3C, 4F and 6Q) to put the new arrangements in place to ensure compliance with The Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026, following consideration by the Constitution Working Group. |
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Motions on Notice |
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Motion A: Strengthening Food Security and Resilience, proposed by Councillor Steve Cosier, seconded by Councillor Tim Sumner
The UK is one of the least food self-sufficient countries in Europe. With its historic reliance on food imports from other countries. Prof Lang of the University of London stated the “UK produced less food than it needed to feed itself, and as a small island that relied on a few large companies to feed its giant population, it is particularly vulnerable to climate shocks”. Increased digitisation along the supply chain makes the UK’s food system more vulnerable to cyber breakdowns, including critical infrastructure failures and malicious activity. As climate change drives more extreme weather both in the summer and the winter, the adoption of more climate resilient farming practices will become increasingly important. The changes in our climate are accelerating the spread and intensity of insect and plant diseases. Without a living breathing biosphere there is no stable economy and no food security. The future food security of our nation depends on the living systems that sustain us. The UK remains reliant on imports for 40% of its food. We need to strengthen our diversify supply chains, invest in sustainable domestic production, and develop a climate-adapted national food security strategy. Taken together, this evidence demonstrates that the UK’s biosecurity and food production is on life support; fighting the accelerating risks posed by geopolitics, emerging diseases, global supply chain instability, climate change and biodiversity decline. Council Notes: · The UK is one of Europe’s least food self-sufficient countries; relying on imports for approximately 40% of it from countries increasingly affected by climate change and geopolitical instability. · The UK’s “just-in-time” food supply chain makes it vulnerable to extreme weather, cyber-attacks, animal and plant diseases, and failures in critical infrastructure. · Food insecurity and food price inflation continue to affect households across the UK, while climate change, biodiversity loss and global instability are increasing risks to long-term food security. · UK’s biosecurity and food production is on life support; fighting the accelerating risks posed by geopolitics, emerging diseases, global supply chain instability, climate change and biodiversity decline.
Council Resolves: 1 To request that the Leader writes to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and West Oxfordshire’s Members of Parliament calling for a comprehensive National Food Security Strategy including: 2 Stronger statutory duties on Government to safeguard food security, protect its citizens from cost-of-living crisis, and safeguard national biosecurity; and 3 Greater investment in climate-resilient farming, domestic food production and environmental recovery.
� To request that the Leader writes to the Cabinet Office and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology urging enhanced cyber resilience for the UK’s food distribution and cold-chain networks, including consideration of their designation as Critical National Infrastructure where appropriate.
� To ask the Executive to work with local farmers, businesses and community organisations to identify opportunities to strengthen local food resilience and support sustainable food production across West Oxfordshire.
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Motion B: Empty MOD Homes in Long Hanborough Proposed by Cllr Roger Faulkner, Seconded by Councillor Toby Morris
West Oxfordshire District Council notes with concern that a number of Ministry of Defence-owned homes in Marlborough Crescent and Becketts Close, Long Hanborough have remained empty for many years. At a time when there is significant pressure on housing across West Oxfordshire, residents are understandably frustrated to see existing homes sitting vacant and deteriorating for such a prolonged period. They are also increasingly concerned at the anti-social behaviour (drug and alcohol use) which has involved the police in recent weeks. The Council recognises that these properties are owned by the Ministry of Defence and that decisions regarding their future ultimately rest with the Government. However, the continued uncertainty surrounding the site is unacceptable for the local community, particularly those living close to the properties. This Council believes that homes should not be left empty for years without a clear plan for their future. This Council therefore resolves to request that the Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council writes to the Minister for Veterans and People and to Calum Miller MP to:
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