Archive for category: Town Administration

The Town Meeting is a meeting of the local government electors of Abingdon which may be attended by all electors of the town.

Under statute, the Town Meeting is convened annually by the Mayor and must take place between 1st March and 1st June. The Mayor chairs the meeting and the meeting itself is organised by the Town Council, however, it is not a meeting of the Town Council itself.

Whilst it is not a legal requirement, the Council takes the opportunity at the meeting to provide updates on its work. The Chairs of the Council’s various Committees present reports to the meeting to detail what the Committee has been doing during the last year.

The Annual Town Meeting for 2021 will take place at 7pm on Wednesday 10 March.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and government restrictions, the meeting will be held online. For more information and how to join see here.

Abingdon Town Council has been working with Christ’s Hospital of Abingdon who have recently funded an initiative that enables schools to provide every child in Abingdon access to the equipment they need to effectively carry out home learning during the pandemic, and beyond, now that the use of such technology has become a fundamental part of teaching and is viewed as an essential skill for 80% of jobs available when they eventually leave school.

The Governors of Christ Hospital are delighted to have been able to support one of their key commitments to help provide educational support to Abingdon school pupils in need by funding 143 laptops so far.

Christ’s Hospital of Abingdon is the oldest of Oxfordshire’s charities and dates from 1553.  It provides assistance to the people of Abingdon through four primary means:

1) The provision of Almshouses to townsfolk who are of good character, over 50 years of age and in need,

2) The support of those referred to the Charity by care agencies by assisting with the purchase of essential items,

3) Educational support to school pupils from Abingdon,

4) The support of local organizations deemed by the Governors to be of benefit to Abingdon townsfolk who are in need.

The Charity also provides public service to the town by maintaining Albert Park for use by the people of Abingdon and by maintaining the town’s historical Almshouses to the standards required of listed buildings and of comfortable modern living.

The newly formed Neighbourhood Plan Steering group for Abingdon is really keen to capture a wide and representative range of voices.

In the next few weeks themed, virtual focus groups are being held to gathers views and ideas. The Eventbrite registration links for the 10 x focus groups have been set up and are detailed below. There are 15 places per group so please sign up soon to avoid disappointment.

 

ABINGDON FAMILIES

Tue 23 Feb [7.30pm until 9.00pm]

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/abingdon-neighbourhood-plan-abingdon-families-tickets-141344608529

Are you an adult of working age? Either with or without children, we want to hear from you. What are opportunities and challenges in Abingdon are you navigating at your stage in life? We want to know about your working week, what you do at weekends, what you do for leisure, your thoughts about the homes and schools on offer in the town. If you moved here recently, what brought you to the town? If you were born and grew up here, what keeps you in Abingdon? What changes would make Abingdon even better?

This session is a working focus group, using digital maps. It will last 90 minutes and is limited to 15 participants. This is an early session to begin to develop themes and ideas for the Abingdon Neighbourhood Plan. If you cannot take part on this date, or there are no places remaining, do not worry. There will be further opportunities to contribute as the neighbourhood plan project develops.

 

ACCESS & MOVEMENT

Wed 24 Feb [1.30pm until 3.00pm]

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/copy-of-abingdon-neighbourhood-plan-access-movement-tickets-141349858231

How do you get around Abingdon? Can you access the places you need to get to easily and without too much hassle? Or do you find it difficult and frustrating? Are the streets and spaces easy to navigate? What can make life easier for you as a pedestrian or somebody that needs to go into town often? We know that Covid-19 restrictions have limited our ability to move around but as the town comes out of lockdown, what changes would you want to see? How can we build a town where everybody has equal opportunity, no matter how the choose to travel?

This session is a working focus group, using digital maps. It will last 90 minutes and is limited to 15 participants. This is an early session to begin to develop themes and ideas for the Abingdon Neighbourhood Plan. If you cannot take part on this date, or there are no places remaining, do not worry. There will be further opportunities to contribute as the neighbourhood plan project develops.

 

LEISURE & SPORTS

Thu 25 Feb [11am until 12.30pm]

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/abingdon-neighbourhood-plan-leisure-sports-tickets-141383542983

Are you a member of a sports club in Abingdon? This could be traditional team sports like football, cricket, or rugby. Or more individual sports, like running, cycling or tennis. Does your chosen sport need facilities, like a club house, changing rooms or pitches? What investment do you need to keep your sport popular and allow participation to flourish? The neighbourhood plan can include planning policies to help support sports and leisure activities across the town and we want to hear from you.

This session is a working focus group, using digital maps. It will last 90 minutes and is limited to 15 participants. This is an early session to begin to develop themes and ideas for the Abingdon Neighbourhood Plan. If you cannot take part on this date, or there are no places remaining, do not worry. There will be further opportunities to contribute as the neighbourhood plan project develops.

 

CULTURE 

Thu 25 Feb [1.30pm until 3.00pm]

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/abingdon-neighbourhood-plan-culture-tickets-141383635259

What is the culture of Abingdon? Where and what are the cultural hotspots? The theatres, pubs, cinemas, museums, nightclubs – we want to explore the culture of the town, both the visible and the less obvious. What traditions do you want to keep alive? And what are the alternative cultural trends? Music, art, and design? What cultural attractions will keep Abingdon alive and dynamic in future. We know that Covid-19 lockdowns have seriously affected cultural life around the world. Now is the time to review what culture means to us all and to look ahead to a brighter cultural future.

This session is a working focus group, using digital maps. It will last 90 minutes and is limited to 15 participants. This is an early session to begin to develop themes and ideas for the Abingdon Neighbourhood Plan. If you cannot take part on this date, or there are no places remaining, do not worry. There will be further opportunities to contribute as the neighbourhood plan project develops.

 

HEALTHY TOWN & OUTDOOR RECREATION

Fri 26 Feb [11am until 12.30pm]

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/abingdon-neighbourhood-plan-healthy-town-outdoor-recreation-tickets-141383767655

What makes a healthy town? A good mix of parks and green spaces, access to informal recreation and opportunities to be outdoors all play a big role in mental health and wellbeing. We know that Covid-19 lockdowns have given many people across the country the time to get out and about and opportunity to explore where they live. There has been a new found enthusiasm for life outdoors and for living a healthy life. What does Abingdon need to maintain these opportunities? Can the town adopt an even greater healthy town mindset? We want to hear from you.

This session is a working focus group, using digital maps. It will last 90 minutes and is limited to 15 participants. This is an early session to begin to develop themes and ideas for the Abingdon Neighbourhood Plan. If you cannot take part on this date, or there are no places remaining, do not worry. There will be further opportunities to contribute as the neighbourhood plan project develops.

 

THE ENVIRONMENT

Mon 1 Mar [1.30pm until 3.00pm]

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/abingdon-neighbourhood-plan-the-environment-tickets-141383853913

The Abingdon Neighbourhood Plan can play a significant role in improving the environment for future generations. By adopting planning policies that influence energy consumption in new buildings, construction techniques and issues around traffic and transport, a neighbourhood plan is a powerful tool to shape the future. Carbon reduction and tackling the climate crisis are critical challenges in 2021. How should Abingdon respond, and which environmental policies and projects should be included in the neighbourhood plan?

This session is a working focus group, using digital maps. It will last 90 minutes and is limited to 15 participants. This is an early session to begin to develop themes and ideas for the Abingdon Neighbourhood Plan. If you cannot take part on this date, or there are no places remaining, do not worry. There will be further opportunities to contribute as the neighbourhood plan project develops.

 

HERITAGE & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Tue 2 Mar [1.30pm until 3.00pm]

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/abingdon-neighbourhood-plan-heritage-the-built-environment-tickets-141384271161

Abingdon has a long and rich history, and this leaves a legacy of many fabulous heritage buildings. The town contains 277 Listed Building, seven Scheduled Ancient Monuments and three Conservation Areas, all testament to this richness of the town’s built environment. While these assets all benefit from national level protection, what more can the neighbourhood plan do? What policies or proposals should the plan contain to ensure that future building meets the needs of the town?

This session is a working focus group, using digital maps. It will last 90 minutes and is limited to 15 participants. This is an early session to begin to develop themes and ideas for the Abingdon Neighbourhood Plan. If you cannot take part on this date, or there are no places remaining, do not worry. There will be further opportunities to contribute as the neighbourhood plan project develops.

 

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & THE TOWN CENTRE

Wed 3 Mar [7.30pm until 9.00pm]

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/abingdon-neighbourhood-plan-business-economy-the-town-centre-tickets-141384562031

What will be the businesses and economy opportunities in Abingdon ten years from now? What types of jobs and employment will be on offer in the future? While nobody an accurately predict the future, we need to do our best to shape the future of business across the town through the neighbourhood plan as best we can. Even before the Covid-19 lockdowns, town centres were changing with a rapid decline in retailing. As we emerge into a new world, what will make the town centre an appealing place to spend time?

This session is a working focus group, using digital maps. It will last 90 minutes and is limited to 15 participants. This is an early session to begin to develop themes and ideas for the Abingdon Neighbourhood Plan. If you cannot take part on this date, or there are no places remaining, do not worry. There will be further opportunities to contribute as the neighbourhood plan project develops.

 

YOUTH 7-11 YEARS OLD

Mon 8 Mar [6.00pm until 7.30pm]

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/abingdon-neighbourhood-plan-youth-7-11-years-old-tickets-141384766643

This session will explore the issues that affect those who live in Abingdon and are aged between 7 and 11 years old. Which places do you love to go to? Are there places to avoid? What makes you happy? What is missing from the town? What sort of place should it be in future? Where do you and your friends like to be at the weekend or after school? Which places have you visited that you really like and think Abingdon could learn from? This is a chance for you to have your say.

This session is a working focus group, using digital maps. It will last 90 minutes and is limited to 15 participants. This is an early session to begin to develop themes and ideas for the Abingdon Neighbourhood Plan. If you cannot take part on this date, or there are no places remaining, do not worry. There will be further opportunities to contribute as the neighbourhood plan project develops.

 

YOUTH 12-16 YEARS OLD

Tue 9 Mar [7.30pm until 9.00pm]

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/abingdon-neighbourhood-plan-youth-12-16-years-old-tickets-141384872961

This session will explore the issues that affect those who live in Abingdon and are aged between 12 and 16 years old. Which places do you love to go to? Are there places to avoid? What makes you happy? What is missing from the town? What sort of place should it be in future? Where do you and your friends like to be at the weekend or after school? Which places have you visited that you really like and think Abingdon could learn from? This is a chance for you to have your say.

This session is a working focus group, using digital maps. It will last 90 minutes and is limited to 15 participants. This is an early session to begin to develop themes and ideas for the Abingdon Neighbourhood Plan. If you cannot take part on this date, or there are no places remaining, do not worry. There will be further opportunities to contribute as the neighbourhood plan project develops.

Did you know that Costa Coffee in Abingdon Market place will fill a customer’s reusable cup if asked, and they give a 25p discount for this.

Costa Coffee are then also accepting old takeaway cups back from customers which they will then dispose of in a sustainable way. (They are also accepting disposable cups from other outlets).

Costa Coffee will then send them to their own composting facility, where they get treated at the necessary high temperature.

In Summer 2019 Abingdon became the 65th UK community to be granted “Plastic-Free” status, and in line with the aims of the Green Advisory and Scrutiny Committee you are actively encouraged to use this service to reduce the waste in Abingdon and ensure your litter is disposed of in a sustainable way.

To find out more information about the ways to help reduce the carbon footprint of Abingdon please visit Abingdon Carbon Cutters website at: www.abingdoncarboncutters.org.uk

South and Vale Business Support have a dedicated website where they provide businesses across South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse with free and impartial support, advice and up-to-date business information.

If your business has been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 Pandemic, you can access information on the business support schemes set up to help.

Visit www.svbs.co.uk for further information and contact details.