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).

Members were provided with updates on Great Big Green Week, the resident’s satisfaction survey and Witney Carnival, the latter for which they were asked to consider a musical theme for this year’s float entry.

The Committee was also provided with details of a Twinning Anniversary reception at the Corn Exchange on 2 May 2025 and were asked to consider who should be able to utilise the Gallery Room at the Corn Exchange for the Christmas Lights Switch-on event. Members agreed there was a need to allow as many residents as possible the opportunity and felt the Youth Council were excellent hosts in 2024.

Members also discussed further proposals from APCAM to hold WeGame sessions for young people in the Corn Exchange during the summer. There was no budget for this or any VR/Arcade day this year but there was an underspend in the £50 for fifty grants budget which could be carried forward to fund this opportunity which all agreed should not be missed.

Finally, the Committee agreed the Inclusivity and Diversity panel should be reformed under a temporary new name, and that the Council should enter Witney Lake & Country Park into the 2025 Thames & Chilterns In Bloom competition. A range of enhancements had taken place there in the last year and all of the suggested engagement ideas were worthy of taking forward.

Recommended:

1.      That, the report be noted and;

2.      That, APCAM WeGame sessions should be held during the summer in the Corn Exchange, funded from an underspend in the £50 for fifty grants fund and;

3.      That, these funds be granted under the General Power of Competence and;

4.      That, a musical theme for this year’s Carnival be agreed by Councillors ahead of Full Council on 14^th April and;

5.      That, Friday 28^th November be noted as the Christmas Lights Switch-on date and;

6.      That, officers contact care facilities to gauge interest in the use of the Gallery Room for the Christmas Lights Switch-on event before a decision on who to provide use to is considered and;

7.      That, Big Green Week be marked by a book swap in the 1863 Café and publication of recipes for leftover food, these could include cultural recipes in conjunction with the Youth Council’s cultural festival and;

8.      That, the inclusivity and diversity panel be temporarily branded with the name Community Voices Forum and relaunched and;

9.      That, the Council enters Witney Lake & Country Park into the Thames & Chilterns In Bloom competition for 2025 and;

10.   That, the updates from the VE&VJ Day 80^th Anniversary task and finish group and Witney Forum be noted.