Exploitation report, councillors’ expenses, rumpus in the Chamber & being good neighbours

THAME’S County Councillor has warned that the publication of the Serious Case Review into Child Sex Exploitation in Oxfordshire, expected next week, is likely to be ‘a blood bath’ for the county council in the press and media.

Thame Town Hall – Image Courtesy of Mark Percy

Reporting to Thame Town Council on Tuesday, Cllr Nick Carter told councillors that the report, set in motion after the county council became aware of criminal gangs of men grooming and sexually exploiting young, vulnerable women in 2011, was ‘not likely to be on the scale of Rochdale’ but would no doubt point out failures, lessons learned and ‘some precise actions’ to prevent similar occurances in the future.

OXFORDSHIRE County Councillors’ expenses are due to rise from £8,500 to £10,000 per year. Cllr Nick Carter, answering a question from Town Cllr Mary Stiles at a town council on Tuesday (25/02), said that the rise was justified because, the re-drawing of boundaries recently, and a reduction in the number of councillors, meant that councillors were looking after a bigger area. The redundancy of the post of Chief Executive also meant big savings could be made. (UPDATE: OCC said today, decision to get rid of Chief Exec. may have been ‘too hasty’)

A TRI-PARTITE alliance between the three county councils, South Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northampshire, could mean savings of £30million a year and a reduction in council tax, said Thame’s County Councillor, Nick Carter this week. A feasibility study is being carried out on the proposal which will mean that the combined local authority could work together in areas such as transport, planning, and big infrastructure projects like the East-West Rail Link+. An Order of Parliament would to be needed before any such arrangement could be formally established. Cllr Carter revealed that Oxfordshire County Council had already appointed a strategist.

AFTER a heated discussion in the council chamber, Thame Town Council has voted to reinstate free use of meeting space at the town hall, for the Thame Conservation Area Committee. The Town Council revoked the advisory group’s free use of the town hall, where it met before planning committee meeting, to scrutinize planning applications for anything that might contravene the Conservation Area. The decision evoked some strong feelings in the town and among councillors themselves, who could not agree whether the group of volunteers were ‘a self-appointed group’ or had been appointed by the town council several years ago to support the planning committee.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the town council, Cllr Champken Woods said: “They should apply to the grants committee like other voluntary groups. Both the Sinaia group and Thame Twinning were refused free use of meeting rooms and I don’t see why this group should be treated any differently. If we give in to them, others will come knocking on our door.” The Mayor, Cllr Jeannette Matelot Green, pointed out that they need space to examine the plans before meetings. Cllr Mike Dyer said that the plans are available to view online.

An angry Cllr David Dodds responded: “Thame Town Council set the Conservation Advisory Group up itself! There is absolutely no reason why we should say ‘on yer bikes!’ ”

Cllr Mary Stiles proposed that the council vote in support of the TCAC retaining free meeting space in the town hall, and the ‘yes’ vote was carried.

A COMMUNITY CHARTER for Thame moved closer to becoming a reality this week, when Thame Town Council voted to support the proposal going forward, following a presentation from one of the Charter’s architects, Phil Stratton. He explained that from the suggestions so far from local people, several main ideas had emerged to frame a Charter. These were; Inclusiveness, a safe place to be, Partnership, Welcoming, Support, a place that thrives and a focus on Environment. Phil told councillors: “Thame is a special place. If we have an effective charter, it will help Thame move forward in several ways. We could use it as part of a Good Neighbour Scheme and it would give clarity to why Thame is a good place to live.

The draft Charter will now be disseminated around the town for consultation with schools, churches etc and the feed back help to form the final Community Charter.

OLDER residents of Thame with mental health needs, can no longer meet locally at the Thame Barns Centre’s, Dovecot Day Club, as it has now been merged with Sharecare at Holton. The club is run by Age UK Oxfordshire, where older people with mental health needs can enjoy a day out with friends. Cllr Mary Stiles told fellow town councillors that some of the members are upset at there not now being anything for them in Thame. She was concerned, she said, for the future of these people as Thame is expanding.

Cllr Stiles asked if the Dovecot Day Centre had applied to the town council for a grant towards some sort of provision, but was told by the Clerk that it had not.