Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council Meeting – Sep 2013 – Part 1


Since the Mayor’s Chaplain, David Fleming, (seen above with wife Beth at their leaving do) has gone to Luton, other people are being asked to lead the start of council prayers. This time it was the turn of the Abingdon Muslims.

At the start of the Town Council meeting three former mayors, who are also Freemen, had the new freedom bar added to their past Mayor’s Badge in a small ceremony. This new accolade was given to the most recent Freeman Janet Morgan and is being backdated.

The Mayor announced some upcoming events:
6th Oct – Fair Service 8pm by the galloping horses
31st Oct – Freedom Parade with the army
8th Nov – Mayor’s Charity Quiz with meal and Paul Mayhew Archer taking the quiz. Always fun even in a loosing team.
6th Dec – Mayor’s Over 70s Party

Then it was down into the first real discussion of the evening. The Vale of White Horse District Council have reduced the number of district councillors and redrawn their ward boundaries, and so have asked the town council about the terms of reference for a new consultation on whether similar changes are needed for the town council.

This led to a discussion about whether Abingdon would be better off without the district council. Put to the vote, 8 town councillors wanted to investigate removing a third tier of local government so Abingdon could govern itself better, 7 didn’t want to pursue this option, and the others abstained – not quite what the district council were asking but a radical thought.

More from the agenda another day.

10 thoughts on “Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council Meeting – Sep 2013 – Part 1

  1. davidofabingdon

    Oh lors, I need to lose weight.

    I have always, by the way, thought three tiers of local government was one tier too many.

    In my darker moments I have thought that it might be about three tiers too many…..

    Reply
  2. John E

    That’s Ewart Hemmings (L;those were the days); Vernon Butt( LibDem) and Matthews I think (C).

    The quiz – quick: bone up on Mrs. Brown!

    Reply
  3. Iain

    David – once more we find ourselves in agreement – the coallition lives 🙂

    Trust you’ve foubd a good curry house in Luton

    Reply
  4. davidofLuton

    Rogon on Marsh Road, Leagrave. Astonishingly good curry.

    But enough of this! after seeing that picture I need Weightwatchers, not more curry.

    Backstreeter, can’t you photoshop some images before they are shares? Knock about 10 pounds off?

    Out of curiosity, was the split vote on the town council on the question of tiers of government split along party lines?

    Reply
  5. Iain

    More or less – with a couple of abstentions on each side- although the matter debated was whether the town council should request this to be looked at in forthcoming review of local governance rarher than whether 2 or 3 tiers is the prefered model, so not sure would split the same way if we debated the issue itself

    Reply
  6. HelenP

    To carry on from what Iain says – those who voted against are not necessarily against it being looked at, but don’t think now is the right time to do it. For all sorts of reasons – including the cost of such an exercise!

    Reply
  7. Iain

    I dont think it would cost uch to investigate. Generally organisations seeking to save money look to eliminate layers so to my mind now is exactly the right time to look at this. And it would simplify things for the public as easier to figure out who is responsible for what.

    I dont believe that just because somebody felt it was right in 1974 that it’s not right to re-examibe this. Theres no obvious process to get this looked into so i think it’s important we look for opportunities to ask these difficult questions when there may be a chance.

    Reply
  8. Neil Fawcett

    The options that would be available to reduce from three tiers to two would be either combining the County and districts into a unitary county or two or more smaller unitaries, or abolishing the town council.

    The only one of these that could be considered by the Vale’s upcoming review would be abolishing the Town Council.

    The process of creating unitary councils is long, drawn out and expensive and the evidence about whether it ends up saving much money overall is mixed.

    Reply

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