Agenda item

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

The Committee received and considered the report of the of the Communications & Community Engagement Officer (C&CEO) concerning current and proposed Community activity.

Members were pleased to see the multitude of activities  Officers were engaged in to promote and provide activity for the community. They received updates on Citizen of the Year, 50^th Anniversary events, support to Witney Town Band, proposals for In Bloom 2025 as well the engagement of Officers on behalf of the Council at a number of collaborative steering groups and forums.

The Committee were updated on arrangements for the evening of the Christmas light switch on. The Youth Council would also be in attendance on the evening, potentially selling hot chocolate and promoting themselves to residents. Acceptances received to the Council’s invite to Young Carers and their families to make use of the Gallery Room were lower than hoped for and therefore the C&CEO would contact other local organisations to use some of the remaining space.

Members discussed the proposal of blub planting in Underhaching Park, it was agreed by all that this proceed as it would provide colour and improve what was a neglected area in the heart of the town.

The Committee also heard that the Community Engagement Strategy was currently being put together with an initial draft version to be presented at the January 2025 meeting of the Committee.

Members discussed the Council’s resident’s questionnaire and agreed questions should only relate to the services provided by Witney Town Council in order to obtain responses that can be acted upon. Also, as the Youth Council had reformed, then questions should be included that had been set by them.

Recommended:

1.      That, the report be noted and,

2.      That, the resident questionnaire should include three questions set by the Youth Council and that any further questions should relate directly to services provided by the Town Council and,

3.      That, bulb planting in Underhaching Park take place utilising funds from the In Bloom underspend and,

4.      That, additional support be provided to Witney Town Band by way of a summer concert programme and,

5.      That, In Bloom vouchers for 2025 remain at the same level as the current year - £50 for schools and £40 for community gardeners and,

6.      That, the minutes of the Witney Forum and Witney Community Insight Profile Steering Group be noted.