Agenda item
Receipt of Announcements
To receive any announcements from the Chair, Leader of the Council, Members of the Executive, the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Governance and the Director of Finance.
Minutes:
The Chair announced the sad news of the passing of Democratic Services Officer Michelle Ouzman at the end of June 2024. The Chair and the Council’s Democratic Services Team attended Michelle’s memorial service. Michelle was not only a valued member of the Democratic Services team at West Oxfordshire District Council, but Michelle had also served in the Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF). Michelle had been involved with various projects including working on the statutes for D-Day remembrance service. A statue had been commissioned in remembrance for Michelle and would be placed at the WRAF headquarters. A moment of silence was observed by Council to remember Michelle.
The Chair congratulated Councillor Charlie Maynard on his election as Member of Parliament for Witney. The Chair thanked Robert Courts for his service and all his work as the previous Member of Parliament for Witney.
The Chair gave feedback on her visit to the Council at Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. The Chair gave an explanation of the structure of the Council and the city of Woodstock. The Chair had visited the old Town Hall which was built in the same style as the Town Hall in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.
The Chair thanked the Elections Team for all their hard work over the past months covering the Local District Elections, The Police and Crime Commissioner Elections and the Parliamentary General Election.
Councillor Andy Graham, The Leader of the Council announced that there were now 3 Members of Parliament covering the West Oxfordshire District Council area. The Leader would be meeting with the MPs and future quarterly meetings were planned to ensure issues would be passed up to Parliament.
The Leader confirmed that Councillor Hugo Ashton had taken the place of Councillor Charlie Maynard as the Executive Member for Planning.
Councillor Duncan Enright reported back on the successful completion of the first phase of the capital grants from the Shared Prosperity Fund to small businesses across West Oxfordshire. 77 grants had been awarded after due diligence. This would support local businesses and provide jobs locally. The grants were across all sectors and geographically were spread broadly across the district. In the coming weeks visits were planned to discuss what the grants were being used for, to talk with small businesses and local members would be involved with these visits. Councillor Enright asked members to respond to these invites when received.
Councillor Enright announced that a skills initiative has been launched with Abingdon and Witney College. Places would be available on courses for areas such as hospitality, tourism and social care. Places would be available to local residents who wish to gain skills and accreditation in these areas which would benefit the local economy.
Councillor Andrew Prosser, Executive Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery, reported that the first meeting had been held for the Cap-zero Project which the Council was co-funding. In future a shift would be made from use of fossil fuels to electricity. The communities of Eynsham and surrounding villages had been involved and members would be able to get involved as well. The purpose was to find ways for energy and renewable energy to be balanced and West Oxfordshire District Council would be the first in the country to take on this project and Councillor Prosser would report back on the project’s process over the coming months.