Agenda item

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

The Committee received the report of the Communications & Community Engagement Officer (C&CEO).

The Committee noted the comments in the report on a youth services meeting which had been held, the outcome of which would be discussed in a later agenda item and also welcomed the Witney Forum minutes showing the wealth of community-minded groups in the town.

Members were pleased to hear of the success of the Schools In Bloom wheelbarrows at the Witney Carnival and those councillors that were able to attend were very impressed with what was created by the Schools and Home start. They thanked Officers and those Councillors that supported the event on the day for their time and recognised the importance of ensuring councillors worked together to ensure that there was good representation at all future events. The Committee went on to discuss the proposal for the school barrows being delivered to residential homes so residents could nurture and enjoy them over the summer period; they were supportive of this idea being implemented for 2024.

Lastly, members discussed Councillor engagement. The Leader of the council confirmed plans were in place for a monthly councillor surgery-style event in the Corn Exchange; these would be held on the 1^st Saturday of each month from 10-12am starting in September.

Members went on to discuss hosting an engagement event in August regarding the proposed changes to Witney High Street. They believed it important to get opinions prior to plans being presented by Oxfordshire County Council (OCC). The Committee was disappointed at the time taken by the County Council to get the consultations underway despite the offer of use of the Corn Exchange. There was further disappointment the interim changes that were proposed had also not been implemented and residents were understandably frustrated too.

As Councillors had been invited to a briefing presentation by the County Council on the proposed consultation and engagement strategy on 20 July they agreed to defer the decision as to when to hold the event in August to the Policy, Governance and Finance Committee on 24th July 2023.

Recommended:

1.      That, the report be noted and,

2.      That, the Council supports the Barrow of Love proposal for Schools in Bloom 2024 and,

3.      That, Councillor engagement meetings at the Corn Exchange be publicised through the Council’s channels and,

4.      That, a decision on whether the Town Council should hold a Witney High Street engagement event in August be deferred to the Policy, Governance and Finance Committee on 24^th July 2023 and,

5.      That, the minutes of the Witney Forum meeting on 8 June 2023 be noted.