22nd January 2026
Budget and Precept for 2026/27
The budget was approved for 2026-2027; and it was agreed that £1,185,865 (6.99% increase) be raised for the precept for 2026-27. Look out for the precept leaflet which will be available next month to explain how your money has been, and will be, spent
Report received from County Councillors and District Councillors
Reports are available to view on our website. Two important items to raise awareness to:
Postal Vote Renewals
Residents who vote by post are reminded that they must now reapply every three years to continue using this voting method. Anyone who applied on or before 31 January 2024 will receive a renewal notice and must reapply by 31 January 2026 to avoid their postal vote lapsing. Further details are available on the Electoral Commission website.
Upcoming Changes to Universal Credit
Significant changes to Universal Credit are expected in April 2026. Citizens Advice have published a report highlighting how proposed cuts to the health element of the benefit could impact disabled people and their families. More information is available via the Citizens Advice website.
Nelson Street, Proposed Experimental One-Way Restriction
The Town Council has agreed to support the long‑awaited and much‑needed Experimental One‑Way Restriction on Nelson Street, as proposed by Oxfordshire County Council. Read more in the article further below in this newsletter.
Thame Annual Town Meeting
The Council discussed format for the Annual Town Meeting which will take place on Wednesday 18 March at 7pm in the Upper Chamber of the Town Hall.
The format this year will include a welcome from the Mayor, the Town Mayor’s report for the previous year and a brief update on the Community Youth Centre. The meeting will then be an Open Forum for questions, opinions, and debate from the residents of Thame. Look out for more information in early February.
Community & Youth Centre
The Community & Youth Centre is progressing a Stage One application to the National Lottery. Preparations are also underway for the Stage Two application, which will proceed if Stage One is successful. The total grant request will be £400,000.
To highlight that should monies be required to be drawn from the Public Work Loan, this will require Full Council approval.
Final items discussed included the Town Council approving the schedule of meetings for 2026-27, the signing of the previous Full Council meeting and noting minutes from Planning Committee on 16 December 2025 and Personnel Committee on 12 January 2026.
