Page 17 - Demo

April 2025 | Phonebox Magazine 17April 2025has to be taken into account, he said. There were elements of distinct unhappiness from last year, which outwardly looked to be a successful event enjoyed by a lot of people. The BOFF committee had an action plan to rectify the mistakes made in 2024, David added, and we have no knowing whether they are going to do that. All we know is they have an action plan, and we hope they are going to stick to it. So, do we measure them by last year, or do we trust them to make improvements so that issues don%u2019t happen again?Chris Shaw said he felt that councillors were co-opted onto the council and should %u2018conduct our business in public%u2019 and be seen to do so. He said voting views should be public. He said there will be mistakes with BOFF, but they are a minority. The event has grown, and there%u2019s an argument that it%u2019s too long. But a large number of people enjoy the event, and he would be happy to state that he would vote for it to continue.Deirdre said BOFF doesn%u2019t always get things right, but they will try to make things better. She didn%u2019t like to vote in secret because it implies that nobody would know how they voted. The Mayor interjected there and said that %u2018certain members of the council%u2019 felt %u2018intimidated%u2019, and that%u2019s the reason for a closed vote. She would rather have that than not have councillors turn up for the meeting, she said. You need to be protected from what has been intimidation and bullying from residents of this town, said the Clerk. And for that reason I think it should be voted in private. Christina Diamandopoulos said she thought the major problem was the availability of alcohol all the time. Colin liked BOFF, and he agreed it%u2019s not perfect and there%u2019s a problem with drink, which does lead to antisocial behaviour. Because Olney is Olney, we need to maintain some standards. He was also happy to vote in public.Chris Tennant said the council asked BOFF to put together an action plan to respond to the negative issues of last year, and they did that, he said. So, they have listened to the council. He was happy to vote in public and happy to support the event, he added.The Mayor said she wanted to support traders, residents and also people who work in the nearby vicinity. It%u2019s wonderful that thousands of people come into the town, she said, but it%u2019s what happens afterwards that matters. We voted to go an extra day last year, she added, but my personal opinion was that it was a day too much. David Chennells said that if they were voting on different formats of the event, those formats should have been presented to them. But we haven%u2019t, he said, so we are only voting on whether the event goes ahead. Christina said it was diffi cult to vote on an %u2018all or nothing%u2019 basis. It doesn%u2019t make sense, she said; we%u2019re not reaching a sensible conclusion. Chris Shaw said that if the BOFF committee haven%u2019t got the message that there is some concern moving forward, then they are %u2018pretty silly people%u2019. We%u2019re not dealing with how BOFF run their event, said Chris Tennant; we%u2019re being asked if we, as a town council, support BOFF on the Market Place. We don%u2019t get into the nitty-gritty of the River Fest, he added. But there are no complaints about that, said the Clerk. Councillors voted in secret. Then out came the pre-prepared pieces of photocopied paper for councillors to put the %u2018X%u2019 on. There was a bit of a delay as not everyone had a pen. What few writing implements there were, were duly handed around the table. And the result was read out by the Mayor: eight in favour, two against and one abstention, so BOFF 2025 would go ahead in its current form, she said. At this point, lots of the public left, having heard what they came for. Can you please leave by the right-hand door, said the Clerk above the din. There%u2019s the Bridge Club next door, and they are entitled to their quiet.PCSO%u2019s reportThey went back now to Item 5, the PCSO Report. The list of shame concerning crime in Olney was as follows: assault with injury 4; assault without injury 2; burglary residential 2; burglary business 6; criminal damage 5; drink/drug driving 1; drug off ence 2; harassment 6; malicious communication 1; public order 7; shoplifting 2; theft 3; theft from vehicle 5; theft of vehicle 3.Expenditure reportDavid Chennells asked if OTC paid Olney and Clifton Fishing Club money for the care of the bridges. Yes, said the Clerk, it%u2019s an ancient agreement. Chris Tennant asked why the council was paying rates on the town%u2019s football club building. It%u2019s being reviewed, but we can%u2019t get out of it, said the Clerk. But it%u2019s an empty building, said Chris. You don%u2019t just stop paying because it%u2019s empty, countered the Clerk.Councillors who represent at external meetingsChristina, Richard and the Mayor all attended the North East Area Forum, at the Olney Centre, where crime and speeding were discussed.Results from the SIDs (Speed Indicator Devices)Deputy Clerk Rob Mungham had the results, and they seemed positive. Yardley Road: 20mph (outside Yardley Manor estate, travelling northbound), average speed of 23,314 vehicles was 21.03mph. High Street, 30mph (Maya restaurant end, travelling southbound), average speed of 107,702 vehicles was 19.83mph. Bridge Street, 30mph (near the church, travelling northbound), average speed of 220,104 vehicles was 23.61mph.River water testingThe Mayor thanked Olney and Clifton Fishing Club for being supportive. Two sites were tested by them, she said, the weir near Emberton Park and Olney%u2019s bathing steps down at the Rec. The water quality was acceptable, but %u2018it%u2019s not looking good going ahead%u2019 into the summer, she said. The Environment Agency were being kept informed.Developments on Yardley Manor estateOne of the developers had sent through some results, said the Mayor. The footings for the new community building were now going in, with open space paths works starting on 17th March. A football pitch will be opened in Spring this year, said the Mayor, and a BMX track will come at the end of March. Remedial work on roads and landscaping will continue until Autumn. Milton Keynes%u2019 city council had arranged a meeting with the Mayor, the Clerk and representatives from Yardley Manor%u2019s steering group.Other mattersA draft Open Spaces Events Policy, recommended by the Recs and Services committee was approved. Experts at Olney Allotments Association and Recs and Services, recommended minimised targeted use of weedkillers on the base of weeds. We can%u2019t be down there watching everyone, said the Clerk. The council voted in favour of recommending to MKCC that future streets in Olney be named after Elizabeth Knight, the local historian who herself recommended street names in the past, and John Lord, from an old Olney family going back several generations. Deirdre said Olney already had a Knights Close. It%u2019s the same family as far as I%u2019m aware, she added. Oh, well, we don%u2019t want people getting the wrong Amazon packages, said David Chennells.Finally, councillors approved a request from the Women%u2019s Institute for a poppy cascade to be placed by the town%u2019s war memorial.The next meeting will be held on Monday 7th April at 7pm in the Olney Centre. If you would like to contribute to the Public Participation section at the start of the meeting or at any time the Mayor deems appropriate, please contact the Town Clerk, townclerk@olneytowncouncil.gov.uk.