Agenda item

To receive the report of the Communications & Community Engagement Officer (to follow).

The Committee received the report of the Communications & Community Engagement Officer (C&CEO) outlining the arrangements for the 2024 Thames & Chiltern In Bloom competition.

Members unanimously agreed the Council should enter the Country Park into the 2024 competition in a hope of achieving a Gold award in its 50^th year.

They also considered the theme for the Schools In Bloom wheelbarrow project and following earlier discussion, agreed that a 50^th theme should be considered as this would allow children to consider what the world may look like against what they wanted it to look like and could be a way in which climate change could be incorporated.

Members discussed the idea of the introduction of a Best Kept Allotment category to the Annual Citizen of the Year awards starting in 2025. They agreed this should be judged by Witney Allotment Association and awarded to one overall allotment across all the sites. In Bloom was also celebrating its 60^th anniversary so social media posts and a small gathering for Community Gardening groups was suggested.

In relation to an underspend in the In Bloom budget, the Committee agreed to the Parks & Recreation Committee’s request to provide £1,250 towards planting which would complete the Children’s Memorial Garden at Windrush Cemetery

Resolved:

1.      That, the report be noted and,

2.      That, the council enter the Country Park for the 2024 competition and,

3.      That, a theme of “50 years in the future” be used for the School In Bloom Wheelbarrows and,

4.      That, a small celebration be arranged for the community gardeners and,

5.      That, an award for Best Kept Allotment be introduced for Citizen of the Year from 2025.

6.      That, £1,250 from the In Bloom Budget be provided to complete the Children’s Memorial Garden project, subject to agreement by the Policy, Governance & Finance Committee.