13 May 2025 – Agenda
SUMMONS TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THAME TOWN COUNCIL
TO: All Members of Thame Town Council
Cllrs M Baines, D Bretherton, P Cowell, D Dawson, A Dite, D Dodds, H Dollman, M Dyer, L Emery, A Gilbert, C Jones, S McGarry, H Richards, P Swan and A Wainwright
VENUE: Upper Chamber, Thame Town Hall
DATE: Tuesday 13 May 2025
TIME: 6:30pm (maximum two hours)
Mandy Sturdy
Clerk of the Council
Date: Wednesday 7 May 2025
The meeting will be immediately followed by each individual Committee (in the order listed in Item 14) nominating its Chairman and Deputy Chairman.
AGENDA
1) Election of Town Mayor
To elect a Town Mayor for 2025-26.
To receive any announcements from the outgoing Town Mayor.
To receive an update on the fundraising totals for the outgoing Mayor’s charities.
To present the Mayor’s Cadet for 2024-2025 with their certificate.
2) Declaration of Acceptance of Office by Town Mayor
The Town Mayor to sign their Declaration of Acceptance of Office as Town Mayor.
To receive any announcements from the incoming Town Mayor.
3) Election of Deputy Town Mayor
To elect a Deputy Town Mayor for 2025-26.
4) Declaration of Acceptance of Office by Deputy Town Mayor
The Deputy Town Mayor to sign their Declaration of Acceptance of Office as Deputy Town Mayor.
5) Apologies for Absence
To receive and agree apologies for absence.
6) Declarations of Interest and Dispensations
To notify of any items that appear in the agenda in which there may be an interest that has not been recorded in the Member’s Register of Interest, and confirmation of any relevant dispensations.
7) Co-Option
To elect a Co-opted member onto the Council to serve for the remaining term of office.
7c. Guidance – Casual Vacancy (Co-option) Voting by Council [PDF]
8) Public Participation and Public Questions
To consider applications from members of the public to address the Council (5 minutes maximum), in respect of any item of business included in the agenda. Applications to speak must have been received by the Town Clerk no later than 5pm on the last working day preceding the meeting.
To consider questions from members of the public (who live, work or run a business in the Parish). Written questions must have been received by the Town Clerk no later than 4pm on the last working day preceding the meeting.
9) Standing Orders
To approve the Standing Orders for 2025-26.
9. Report – Standing Orders [PDF]
9a. Standing Orders May 2025 [PDF]
10) Financial Regulations
To approve the Financial Regulations for 2025-26 (changes highlighted in red text on document).
10. Financial Regulations May 2025 [PDF]
11) Scheme of Delegations
To approve the Scheme of Delegations for 2025-26.
11. Report – Scheme of Delegations [PDF]
11a. Scheme of Delegations – May 2025 [PDF]
12) Committees Responsibilities and Structure
To approve the Committee Responsibilities and Structure for 2025-26.
12. Report – Committee Responsibilities & Structure [PDF]
12a. Committee Responsibilities 2025-2026 [PDF]
12b. Committee Structure 2025-26 [PDF]
13) Working Groups
To receive a report and consider the recommendations.
13. Report – Working Groups [PDF]
13a. Active Working Groups Structure and Membership 2025 [PDF]
14) Appointment of Standing Committees Membership
To appoint Members to the:
- Community Services Committee
- Corporate Governance Committee
- Environment & Assets Committee
- Planning Committee
To note that the Chairs and Deputy Chairs for each committee will be elected at the respective committee meetings which immediately follow this meeting.
To further note that the membership of the Personnel Committee will be the Mayor and Deputy, and Chairs of each standing committee.
14. Report – Committee Membership [PDF]
14a. Committee Membership 2025-26 [PDF]
15) External Organisations
To receive a report and consider the recommendations.
15. Report – External Organisations [PDF]
15a. External Organisation Appointments 2025-2026 [PDF]
15b. Appendix B – Guidance on Appointments to Outside Bodies [PDF]
16) Planning Application Amendment – P23/S4262/FUL – Land North of Oxford Road
Full application for 111 residential dwellings including new highways, associated infrastructure, sustainable urban drainage systems, pumping stations, demolition of agricultural buildings, green infrastructure and ancillary works (additional Information received 7 February, 20 March 2024 and 08 April 2025 and amended plans received 24 October 2024, 08 April 2025 and amended description to reduce number of dwellings 08 April 2025).
To consider the amended planning application and agree a response.
16. Report – AMENDMENT 2 – P23S4262FUL Land north of Oxford Road [PDF]
17) Christmas Lighting Scheme
To consider the selection of a Christmas Lighting Scheme for Thame and approve a five-year contract (2025-2029) with the selected contractor.
17. Report – Christmas Lighting Scheme [PDF]
18) Strategy
To approve the proposed timeline and receive a draft vision statement based on feedback from Councillors.
19) Insurance Contract 2025-2028
To note after completion of insurance tender process that our current insurers ‘Zurich’ were the most competitive and based on good service we will be renewing their contract for 3 years. The council’s inventory has increased in value by £75,000 and Zurich managed to reduce our previous fee by £250.00 per year. For information the next nearest bidder after Zurich was £2500 per year more expensive for like for like services.
20) Members Questions (under Standing Order 11)
A Member may ask the Mayor any questions concerning the business of the Council.
21) Minutes
To approve the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 29 April 2025.
22) Planning Committee
To note the minutes and consider any recommendations arising from the meeting on 6 May 2025.
The meeting will be immediately followed by each individual Committee (in the order listed in Item 14) nominating its Chairman and Deputy Chairman.