Agenda and minutes
PDF 95 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. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Nigel Ridpath, Mark Walker, Jane Doughty, Rachel Crouch, Adrian Walsh, Andy Goodwin and Alex Wilson.
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations from Members of Council on any items to be considered at the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no declarations of interest |
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Minutes of Previous Meeting To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2025. Additional documents: Minutes: It was proposed by the Leader of the Council and seconded by the Deputy Leader, RESOLVED: That the minutes of the previous meeting of Full Council held on 3 February 2026 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair. |
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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. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair, Leader, Executive Members, Chief Executive, Director of Finance and Director of Governance were invited to make any relevant announcements. These were as follows.
Chairman
It was with sadness that the Chair of the Council announced the recent passing of Ex Councillor Ian Hudspeth, who served as member for Woodstock and Bladen between 2002 and 2012 and David Nicholson, who served Witney East from 2003-2007.
The Chair stated that both would be greatly missed and that his thoughts were with the respective families. A number of Members rose to speak in tribute to them. One Member stated that the late Cllr Hudspeth had displayed a great deal of passion about Oxfordshire and that he had been the inspiration behind her desire to serve as a Member of the Council. Tributes were also paid to Cllr Nicholson. The comments were echoed by many others.
The Chair also gave mention to Lance Corporal George Hooley of the Parachute Regiment, who was killed while on military service in Ukraine. His body was repatriated to RAF Brice Norton just before Christmas.
A minute’s silence was observed for all those who had lost their lives.
The Chair then took the opportunity to thank Members for their attendance at the Carol Service prior to Christmas and expressed his appreciation to Cllrs Cooper and Ashby for their contributions. Members were also informed about the upcoming coffee morning and bake sale which aimed to raise funds for his chosen charity, scheduled to be held on 20 February 10-12pm.
Leader Of the Council
The Leader confirmed that the elections would go ahead as planned in May 2026. He also stated that a consultation on Local Government Reorganisation was currently underway following which a decision as to the preferred option would be decided upon.
Executive Members
Cllr Ashton provided a brief update on the preferred spatial options consultation, stating that the responses received indicated a high level of engagement from consultees on the Local Plan. Members could expect the consultation summary report to be published in March which would provide further information as to the nature and detail of the responses.
Cllr Smith informed Members regarding the expected completion of the sale of the Council-owned property at Towns Road, Oxford and the associated revenue saving of approximately £158,000. This would also provide the council with a capital receipt which would be used to help fund the capital programme, including temporary emergency accommodation. Chief Executive
The Chief Executive announced that following Council`s consideration of the issue of devolution in the Thames Valley and the proposal for a mayoral strategic authority, the Government had responded positively to the request. As such the Minister for Devolution, faith and Communities had been keen to discuss the matter further to help progress the matter. |
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Changes to Councils Working Groups Purpose: To report the change in membership on the Constitution Working Group from Councillor Andrew Coles to Councillor Duncan Enright (agreed under delegated authority).
Recommendation: That Council resolves to: 1. Ratify and note the change in the Constitution Working Group membership from Councillor Andrew Coles to Councillor Duncan Enright. Additional documents: Minutes: Members were informed of a change in the membership of the Constitution Working Group under delegated authority from Cllr Andrew Coles to Cllr Duncan Enright.
It was proposed by the Leader and seconded by Cllr Rylett,
RESOLVED: That the report be noted and actioned. |
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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. Additional documents: Minutes: No submissions had been received from members of the public prior to the deadline of 2.00pm on Friday 23 January |
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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 Andrew Prosser, Executive Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery:
I am aware that WODC had won a £2.2m grant from the UK Govt (via a wholly owned organisation called Salix) for a project at Chipping Norton Leisure Centre. This funding was awarded under PSDS4 Grant (Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme 4) for the replacement of gas boilers with Air Source Heat Pumps. A requirement of the grant was that the gas boilers be classed as end of life or coming to the end of life.
My understanding is that WODC have written to the UK Govt to hand money back, shortly after being awarded it last year. I may be wrong, but I do have it on very good authority that the Council has made this decision and are about to write to the government if they haven’t already.
The grant funding has now been cancelled by central government and no longer exists, with no intent for anything to replace it - therefore, this is no future funding for this type of work.
Given Local Government review, as far as I am aware, there has not been an approach to the County Council to discuss the reasons for the money being handed back to the government. I am of the understanding OCC would have supported WODC with resourcing if required. What is the reason for the decision making? It would seem prudent that all avenues are explored before deciding to hand so much money back.
I am of the understanding that the decision meeting itself occurred between directors and the Chief Executive, were any Executive Members involved? Were Officers involved? If so, who? I would also like to know when the meeting took place, and for a copy of the minutes to be distributed to members.
Additionally, there is a second PSDS project proceeding at Windrush Leisure Centre, and it is unclear as to why Chipping Norton has been cancelled, and Witney is proceeding.
Leisure services are a statutory service and will continue beyond LGR in the same building. Therefore, given that the boilers in Chipping Norton are at end of life, the costs for replacements will now need to be picked up directly by WODC or a successor authority.
One requirement of LGR is for all Councils to conduct a building condition survey to help inform quicker decision making on properties and budgets post LGR. I am suspecting that recent investment ... view the full agenda text for item CL.69 Additional documents: Minutes: Questions by Members, as listed on the agenda, and the responses to those questions, which were circulated in advance were taken as read. The Chair invited the questioners to ask a supplementary question if they wished and then invited the relevant Executive Members to respond. The written questions, answers, verbal supplementary questions and supplementary answers were detailed in a separate document appended to the minutes of the meeting. Q2 Supplementary Cllr Ashby enquired as to how many insurance claims had been made and paid out from the Council's insurance company. Answer: The Executive Member Cllr Smith offered to provide the requested information in writing. Q4 Supplementary Cllr Ashby enquired about the Council`s timescale for the opening of the adventure play area. He also sought some assurance that the space would be accessible to the entire town and requested that this be included within the terms and conditions of usage. Answer: Cllr Sumner offered to provide a written response to the question, and noted the comment regarding accessibility. Q6 Supplementary Cllr Meade asked about the progress of the recruitment process for the running of the Cartherton area strategy. Answer: The Director of Place responded informing the Member that following a successful recruitment process in December 2025, the appointed individual had failed to fill the role. As such a two staged approach would now be adopted whereby a temporary individual would be appointed to move the project forward, whilst also running a new recruitment process alongside it. It was anticipated that the temporary position would be filled by the end of February at the latest.
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Additional Committee Meeting Purpose: To consider an addition to the programme of Committee meetings.
Recommendations: Council resolves to: 1. Agree an additional Audit and Governance Committee meeting to be held on 18 March 2027 as this was an omitted from the programme of meetings for 2026/27 agreed at Council on 3 December 2025. Additional documents: Minutes: Members were informed of an omission to the programme of meetings for the 2026/27 municipal year. Members were requested to agree to the addition of a meeting of the Audit and Governance Committee on 18 March 2027.
It was proposed by Cllr Enright and seconded by the Chair.
RESOLVED: That the scheduling of an additional meeting of the Audit and Governance on 18 March 2027 be agreed. |
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Draft Budget 2026/27 Purpose: This report provides an update on the developing budget for 2026/27 following the provisional government funding settlement announcement on 17 December 2025
Recommendations: The Executive resolved on 14 January 2026 to recommend to Council to: 1. Approve the Council Tax Base shown in Annex C, calculated as 49,561.59 for the year 2026/27. 2. Authorise the Director of Finance to submit the National Non-Domestic Rates Return 1 (NNDR1) to Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by the submission date of 31 January 2026.
Additional documents: Minutes: Cllr Smith introduced the report to Members stating that the purpose of this report was to provide an update on the draft budget and budget setting process and to consider two recommendations which had been made by the Executive at its meeting held on the 14 January. The draft budget for 2026/27 was submitted for Members consideration, ahead of approval of the final budget at the forthcoming meeting of Full Council on 25 February 2026. Members were informed that the Council had been required to set realistic budgets, balancing current need and future financial stability to ensure that adequate reserves were maintained over the medium term. The first draft of the revenue budget for 2026/27 had already been presented to the Executive on 17 December 2025, whilst the current draft had been updated with the provisional government funding settlement, draft fees and charges and the final tax base. A summary of the changes to the budget were set out on pages 23-36 of the agenda pack. The report also provided details of the funding settlement and the assumptions made for both the revenue budget and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) including the current drivers of growth. This was highlighted in section 6 of the report. The report emphasised that the budget and MTFS had been produced without incorporating any potential impacts from Local Government Reorganisation due to the impossibility of providing any credible financial projections. However, Members were informed that LGR would have an impact on the delivery of Council services and the financial position up until the establishment of the new Unitary Authority in April 2028. In considering the report before them Members welcomed the budget proposals which was described as having exemplified the progressive yet prudent approach of the current administration. One Member highlighted the substantial level of investment that had been made in respect of the acquisition of properties for the purpose of temporary emergency accommodation. This had proved to have been hugely beneficial for addressing homelessness. Another Member spoke in support of the draft budget highlighting the increase in the allocation of resources toward the planning function. This was viewed as being of particular significance in the light of the changing policies directed by central government in the area of both planning policy and the development management process. A further comment on the budget was made with regard to the active investment work which was taking place around nature recovery and the importance of delivering on the objectives across the district and the county. This important area of work had been greatly advanced by the grant funded Nature Recovery officer role which had facilitated contact with other organisations and as such helped to deliver on the set objectives of the Council. A number of other Members also rose to endorse the draft budget, whilst the Leader expressed his gratitude to the hardworking Members and staff that had made the Council of West Oxfordshire successful in achieving its key objectives. The Executive Member also thanked the Director ... view the full minutes text for item CL.71 |
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Motion A: Mobile phone reception in rural areas - Proposed by Councillor Lidia Arciszewska, Seconded by Councillor Steve Cosier Proposed by: Councillor Lidia Arciszewska Seconded by: Councillor Steve Cosier
Mobile phone reception is very patchy in West Oxfordshire. There are many areas with no mobile signal, extending over significant parts of villages and occasionally encompassing entire settlements. This has been a major frustration for residents, farmers and businesses, whether at home, work, or out and about; for example, when cycling and walking to work or school, or when they are outdoors for sports or recreation. People have been complaining about this for years.
Moreover, there is a new growing concern among the public related to the lack of mobile phone reception, as traditional BT copper phone lines are being phased out and customers are being moved to Voice over Internet Protocol, VoIP, which is delivered over a broadband connection and dependent on electricity supply. Therefore, during any power outages, residents and businesses in areas with no mobile signal have no means to communicate with the outside world. While telephone companies have an obligation to protect vulnerable customers, every household in a non-signal area is at risk. Although switching to digital services is a great step forward, its implementation provides another powerful case for the need to provide rural areas in Oxfordshire with full mobile signal coverage.
The Council resolves to ask the Leader to write to Rt Hon Ian Murray, the Minister of State for Culture, Media and Sport, to ask what the government’s strategy is to ensure full mobile signal coverage in rural areas.
Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Lidia Arciszewska introduced the motion and advised that this had been altered and now read as follows:
“Mobile phone reception is very patchy in West Oxfordshire. There are many areas with no mobile signal, extending over significant parts of villages and occasionally encompassing entire settlements. This has been a major frustration for residents, farmers and businesses, whether at home, work, or out and about; for example, when cycling and walking to work or school, or when they are outdoors for sports or recreation. People have been complaining about this for years.
Moreover, there is a new growing concern among the public related to the lack of mobile phone reception, as traditional BT copper phone lines are being phased out and customers are being moved to Voice over Internet Protocol, VoIP, which is delivered over a broadband connection and dependent on electricity supply. Therefore, during any power outages, residents and businesses in areas with no mobile signal have no means to communicate with the outside world. While telephone companies have an obligation to protect vulnerable customers, every household in a non-signal area is at risk. Although switching to digital services is a great step forward, its implementation provides another powerful case for the need to provide rural areas in Oxfordshire with full mobile signal coverage.
The Council resolves to ask the Leader,
Councillor Arciszewska suggested that climate change had increased the risk to vulnerable people when mobile signal was not available. It was also noted that the points raised in the motion had been made at a previous meeting and subsequently representatives from Mobile Phone UK had given a briefing, however no action had been taken. The mobile phone industry was market driven and therefore this was a nationwide problem that required a government level solution.
The alteration of the original motion was accepted by Councillor Steve Cosier who seconded the motion. Councillor Cosier made the following points:
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Motion B: Local Governance Review: Parish and Town Boundary Review for West Oxfordshire - Proposed by Councillor Michele Mead, Seconded by Councillor Liam Walker Proposed by: Councillor Michele Mead Seconded by: Councillor Liam Walker
This Council notes:
That parish and town councils form the most local tier of democratic governance and play a vital role in representing community identity, delivering services, and fostering civic pride across West Oxfordshire.
That West Oxfordshire has experienced changes in population, housing development, settlement patterns, and community usage in recent years, including signi?cant growth on the edges of existing parishes and towns. That in some areas current parish and town boundaries no longer accurately re?ect community identities, patterns of service use, or the expectations of residents.
That the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 provides district councils with the power to conduct Local Governance Reviews to ensure parish and town arrangements remain effective and representative.
This Council believes:
That parish and town boundaries should be logical, clearly understood, and re?ective of established and emerging communities.
That regular review of governance arrangements is good practice and supports strong local democracy. That any review should be locally driven, evidence-based, and involve meaningful engagement with residents, parish and town councils, and other stakeholders.
This Council resolves:
That council officers undertake a Community Governance Review focused speci?cally on parish and town boundary arrangements across West Oxfordshire.
That the review should:
Assess whether existing boundaries remain appropriate considering housing growth, demographic change, and community identity.
Consider requests or representations from parish and town councils and residents. Seek to ensure boundaries promote effective governance, community cohesion, and clarity for residents.
To require that the review includes a full programme of public consultation with affected parish and town councils, ward members, and local communities.
To request that officers bring forward a detailed scope, timetable, and consultation plan for approval by Executive and Council prior to the commencement of the review.
That no changes to boundaries will be implemented without full consultation and formal approval by Council.
Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Michele Mead introduced the motion, which read as follows:
“This Council notes: That parish and town councils form the most local tier of democratic governance and play a vital role in representing community identity, delivering services, and fostering civic pride across West Oxfordshire.
That West Oxfordshire has experienced changes in population, housing development, settlement patterns, and community usage in recent years, including significant growth on the edges of existing parishes and towns. That in some areas current parish and town boundaries no longer accurately reflect community identities, patterns of service use, or the expectations of residents.
That the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 provides district councils with the power to conduct Local Governance Reviews to ensure parish and town arrangements remain effective and representative.
This Council believes:
That parish and town boundaries should be logical, clearly understood, and reflective of established and emerging communities.
That regular review of governance arrangements is good practice and supports strong local democracy.
That any review should be locally driven, evidence-based, and involve meaningful engagement with residents, parish and town councils, and other stakeholders.
This Council resolves:
That council officers undertake a Community Governance Review focused specifically on parish and town boundary arrangements across West Oxfordshire.
That the review should:
Assess whether existing boundaries remain appropriate considering housing growth, demographic change, and community identity.
Consider requests or representations from parish and town councils and residents. Seek to ensure boundaries promote effective governance, community cohesion, and clarity for residents.
To require that the review includes a full programme of public consultation with affected parish and town councils, ward members, and local communities.
To request that officers bring forward a detailed scope, timetable, and consultation plan for approval by Executive and Council prior to the commencement of the review.
That no changes to boundaries will be implemented without full consultation and formal approval by Council.”
Councillor Mead stated that large towns, such as Witney and Carterton, were seeing houses built just outside their boundaries. In such cases these towns did not receive the precept associated with the developments but were nevertheless the main service centres for them. The service centres were therefore inundated with demand without the money to provide the services required.
Councillor Liam Walker seconded the motion and reserved the right to speak.
Councillor Andy Graham proposed an amendment to the motion which was as follows:
“This Council notes:
That parish and town councils form the most local tier of democratic governance and play a vital role in representing community identity, delivering services, and fostering civic pride across West Oxfordshire.
That West Oxfordshire has experienced changes in population, housing development, settlement patterns, and community usage in recent years, including significant growth on the edges of existing parishes and towns. That in some areas current parish and town boundaries no longer accurately reflect community identities, patterns of service use, or the expectations of residents.
That the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 provides district councils with the ... view the full minutes text for item CL.73 |
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Motion C: Review and Improve the Fast Track Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG): Proposed by Councillor Genny Early, Seconded by Councillor Andrew Prosser Proposed by: Councillor Genny Early Seconded by: Councillor Andrew Prosser
Motor neurone disease (MND) is a rapidly progressing condition – a third of people die within a year of diagnosis and half within two years. As the disease progresses, symptoms worsen and needs increase, often unpredictably. People living with progressive or terminal conditions like MND deserve to live in safe, accessible homes. They have the right to independence and quality of life in the time they have left.
Council notes:
Council resolves to:
Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Genny Early introduced the motion and advised that she had altered this, and it now read as follows:
“Motor neurone disease (MND) is a rapidly progressing condition – a third of people die within a year of diagnosis and half within two years. As the disease progresses, symptoms worsen and needs increase, often unpredictably. People living with progressive or terminal conditions like MND deserve to live in safe, accessible homes. They have the right to independence and quality of life in the time they have left.
Council notes:
Council resolves to:
Councillor Early suggested that the aim of the motion was to increase the speed and quality of this service to residents and advised that the alterations had been made following discussion with officers. Councillor Early noted that some of the data originally requested was managed by ... view the full minutes text for item CL.74 |