Agenda item
Receipt of Announcements
To receive any announcements from the Chair, Leader, Members of the Executive or the Chief Executive.
Minutes:
Councillor Elizabeth Poskitt, the Chair of the Council, welcomed Members and Officers to the meeting. The Chair gave an update of their engagements since the last meeting of Council in September 2024 and also announced the following upcoming events:
- There would be an event in aid of the Mayor’s charities on 31 January 2025 at Woodstock Town Hall and more information would follow.
- Thanks were given to those who had bought cake and jam with the proceeds being donated to charity.
- There was a Christmas staff event on the morning of 16 December at 10am -11am in the Committee Rooms downstairs at the Woodgreen Council Offices.
- Congratulations were given to the newly elected Councillor Mike Baggaley for Chipping Norton.
Councillor Andy Graham, the Leader announced the following:
- Various work was being carried out in regard to the winter fuel payment uplift program which was using data to target people at risk of crisis. The Council had communicated to residents about the support available, encouraging people to sign up to pension credit. The Executive Member for Stronger Healthy Communities would continue to work on this.
- The Council had received Innovation Funding to increase participation and digital consultation for complex planning consultations. Officers were thanked for their work on the project. was. Members would be trained on how to use the platform.
- The West Oxfordshire District Council Voice had been circulated at a cost of 60 pence per copy. After a request from Councillor Ashby, The Leader confirmed he would ensure that the communications team would circulate electronic copies to Councillors and Town and Parish Councils.
- The flooding impact was far worse than forecast by Environment Agency (EA) and the Met Office. The Council’s teams had responded to the situation quickly, carrying out door knocking on Monday evening. Officers at Ubico, within the flood management and emergency management teams, were thanked for their work.
- The Chair added her sympathies to those who would be out of their homes due to the flooding.
- In response to a query from a member, the Leader confirmed that it was an immediate priority to check sandbag stocks.
Councillor Duncan Enright, the Deputy Leader, announced the following:
- Further sympathy was expressed to those impacted by the floods. There was a whole series of events and markets across the district. Woodstock Festival, Witney and Carterton Christmas Lights switch on and the Chipping Norton gift market was on 8 December. The Christmas market at Marriott’s walk was on from 5-8 December and would be larger than last year. Events were on Cotswold.com. The Deputy Leader wished everyone a Happy Christmas.
Councillor Andrew Prosser thanked staff for dealing with floods and Councillor Booker and colleagues within the fire department. He said that Miller’s Mews had also flooded but was grateful for the support received. There would be a route map published soon.
Councillor Geoff Saul – There were two bids on behalf of the Community Partnership that had been successful. Monday would see the start of 16 days of activism project against gender-based violence and a domestic abuse was taking place in Chipping Norton on the 16 December.
Councillor Hugo Ashton explained that Botley West Solar Farm application had been submitted on 15 November. The Inspector had 28 days to validate the application. A local impact report was being prepared and would be presented to Development Control Committee in February and there would need to be relevant representations prepared by the Council.
Councillor Lidia Arciszewska explained that the Witney flood monitoring system was up and running. She expressed thanks to the Witney Flood Group for setting it up and the project was conceived at Waterways Day in 2022 and could prevent and manage flooding in the future.
Giles Hughes, the Chief Executive, welcomed the staff who transferred from Publica on 1 November 2024 and highlighted the names and roles of the senior staff to have transferred. The Chief Executive welcomed Ana Prelici as the Senior Democratic Services Officers who had joined on Monday.
Madhu Richards, the Director of Finance, said that the budget consultation had opened on 18 November and would run until 15 December.
Councillor Julian Cooper announced that it was the 150th birthday of Sir Winston Churchill.