Agenda item

To receive and consider the report of the Communications & Community Engagement Officer.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Communications & Community Engagement Officer (C&CEO) which provided updates on Heritage Open Day, Christmas activities, the Eco Fair, World Mental Health Day and the forthcoming Citizen of the Year Awards.

The Committee was pleased to hear of the success of Heritage Open Day and noted the positive feedback received from residents regarding the opportunity to access local heritage sites, historic buildings and local heritage displays.

Members also welcomed proposals for World Mental Health Day and agreed that the promotion of resources relating to social media usage, doom-scrolling and personal wellbeing should proceed as outlined within the report.

Members noted that no nominations had been received for the Young Citizen of the Year category in either 2024 or 2025. The Committee agreed that councillors should actively promote the award within their communities and that additional youth organisations should be contacted directly to encourage nominations to come forward.

In response to a Member’s question regarding the Christmas Light Switch-On event, Officers advised that discussions between Witney Rotary Club and Oxfordshire County Council remained ongoing in relation to the potential impact of the High Street improvement works and it was hoped that no issues would arise affecting delivery of their event.

The Committee considered proposals relating to Town Council bunting and reviewed designs produced by pupils from Blake C of E Primary School. Members praised the quality and youthfulness of the work undertaken and felt that similar opportunities should be offered to all Witney primary schools. It was suggested that bunting produced by schools could be showcased within the Market Square and supported by an online gallery to celebrate the work of participating pupils. Members agreed that development of the wider schools’ bunting initiative should be referred to the Witney: Past, Present & Future Working Party and that it be developed as a St George's Day activity for 2027, allowing completed bunting to be displayed in the Market Square as part of the celebrations.

Members also considered the procurement of Town Council bunting and expressed a preference for a modern design featuring both the Witney logo and the Town Council logo. It was agreed that two lengths of bunting be purchased at a cost of £374 per length.

The Committee discussed the possibility of a Big Lunch event in June 2027 and agreed that partnership working with local organisations represented the most practical method of delivery. Members welcomed the potential involvement of Courtside Hubs CIC and the Witney Town Band in any future event. Following discussion, a vote was taken on a proposal to support an additional Children’s Play Day with a budget of £1,000 as part of the event. The proposal was carried with four votes in favour, no votes against and two abstentions.

Recommended:

1.       That, the report be noted.

2. That, support be given to the development of a community-led Big Lunch event in June 2027 and;
3. That, provision of £1,000 be included within the 2027/28 budget process to support an additional Play Day associated with the event and;
4. That, officers proceed with the purchase of two 80 metre lengths of Town Council bunting at a cost of £374 per length and;
5. That, the development of a schools’ bunting competition be referred to the Witney Past, Present & Future Working Party and;
6. That, councillors and officers actively promote the Young Citizen of the Year category and engage with youth organisations to encourage future nominations.