Agenda item

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

The Committee received and considered the report of the Communications & Community Engagement Officer concerning community engagement projects.

Members were advised on the plans for the national ‘In-Bloom’ and the local ‘Schools In Bloom’ projects which were coming to fruition by the end of July. In addition, it was agreed the Council should support Love Your Parks week as it had previously and could promote recent litter-picking equipment purchased by the Council for community use.

There was discussion on Car Free Day, which this year fell on Thursday 22 September. As a Market Day, Market Square would not be useable but the areas outside the Corn Exchange and the Town Hall might be available if the County Council was agreeable to the request. Members agreed with officer suggestions on a Charabanc and asked that WOCT also be asked if they would like to be involved. A discount offer at the Corn Exchange 1863 bar could also be promoted via QR code on the main footpath and cycle path approaches into the town centre.

Further updates were provided on Championing Local and Christmas engagement with members noting the launch of the annual Christmas competitions and agreeing that the Rotary Club of Witney should be approached to see if they would like to manage the Christmas Lights Switch-on event. This would run as it had previously on Friday 25^th November at 6pm with a grant provided to the Club from the Town Council. The Committee also agreed that sponsorship should be sought for a second Christmas tree in Market Square.

Resolved:

1.      That, the report be noted and,

2.      That, the Town Council supports Love Your Parks Week, 29 July – 5 August, as it had in 2021 with the addition of promoting community litter picking equipment and,

3.      That, Oxfordshire County Council is approached to see if the highway outside the Town Hall could be used as a base for activities in respect of Car Free Day and,

4.      That, a Charabanc is requested from the Oxford Bus Museum for Car Free Day and,

5.      That, West Oxfordshire Community Transport are asked if they would like to be involved with Car Free Day and,

6.      That, the Communications & Community Engagement and Venue & Events Officers develop a discount scheme for 1863 on Car Free Day to promote active travel and,

7.      That, the updates on Championing Local and Christmas competitions be noted and,

8.      That, sponsorship is sought for the second Christmas tree in Market Square and,

9.      That, the Rotary Club of Witney be approached to see if they would like to run the 2022 Christmas Lights Switch-on event on Friday 25^th November at 6pm on the same terms as in previous years, to include a grant from the Council.