Agenda and draft minutes

Cllr Aitman was porposed and seconded as Chair of the Committee and all were in favour.

RESOLVED:

Cllr J Aitman was duly elected Chair of this committee for the ensuing municipal year.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr J S King and D Parkes of Witney Wonderland.

There were no decalrations of interest in matters to be discussed at the meeting.

a)                   To adopt and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2019 (enclosed)

                b)            Matters arising from the minutes

The Council received and considered the minutes of the Christmas Lights Working Partymeeting held on 4 March 2019.

a)               RESOLVED:                         to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 4 May 2019 for signature by the Chairman.

   b)           MATTERS ARISING:         there were no matters arising to be discussed at the meeting.

To receive and consider the report from the Operations and Estates Officer (enclosed)

The Sub-committee received and considered the report of the Operations and Estates Officer as circulated prior to the meeting. Members were advised that the Council were committed to the lights contractor for this year but would have the opportunity to review the budget and infrastructure for the display in September and tendering in January 2020. The possibility of further sponsorship and challenges with advertising were discussed along with an additional Christmas tree outside of the Corn Exchange.

RECOMMENDED:

1.            that the Operations and Estates Officer explores sponsorship of an additional tree outside the Corn Exchange with an interested party and agree in principle should the full cost of the tree and its components be covered, and ask if the interested party may also like to consider sponsoring lights in lower Bridge Street.

To receive and consider a verbal update from the Rotary Club (if available)

The Sub-Committee received a verbal update from the Rotary Club representative and it was the club’s expectation that this year’s event would run in the same way as previous ones. Improvements had been made on staging, safety and road closures but, following the 2018 switch-on event, there was some concern on the timings of the Witney Wonderland event which was starting immediately after the switch-on.

RECOMMENDED:  that the Town Council passes concerns from the Rotary Club of Witney regarding Winter Wonderland timings on to the event organisers.

To receive and consider the report from the Projects Officer (enclosed)

Members of the Sub-committee were presented with an update on the annual Advent Fayre by the Projects Officer. Previous formats and activities were discussed along with the contribution of the Witney Model Club, further competitions and the need for assistance from Town Councillors.

RECOMMENDED:

1.                   that the Projects Officer contacts Witney Model Club to ask if they are able to

provide Christmas-themed models;

2.         that the Projects Officer invites all members of Witney Town Council to assist during the event and ask if they have a Father Christmas who may be available during the event.