Agenda item

To receive and consider the report of the Venue & Events Officer.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Venue & Events Officer which provided details of the past and upcoming events held on the Council’s land.

Members heard that the subsidised lettings budget had been oversubscribed in 2025/26, and that requests for 2026/27 were expected to rise further, partly due to the additional use granted to users of The Leys. The Committee were broadly supportive of increasing the subsidised lettings budget, noting that costs would rise in any case in line with the annual hire rate percentage increase.

With regard to the Council’s contribution to Witney Carnival, the Town Clerk advised that the Carnival Committee should submit funding applications in good time to align with the Council’s budget cycle. This would ensure anticipated requests could be included in the budget, rather than received mid-year and risking an overspend.

The Committee Clerk advised that Officers had met with the organisers of Witney Music Festival earlier in the day and that they had given an understanding of the level of feedback required from Witney Music Festival in order to provide the Council with the confidence required to support the ongoing partnership. It was agreed that on receipt of the information from WMF that Officers prepare a report on the grant award for consideration by the Committee on 17 November 2025.

Recommended:

1. That, the report and verbal updates be noted and,
2. That, the subsidised lettings budget be increased in 2026-27 to reflect the additional expenditure plus the annual percentage inflationary increase and,
3. That, an increase in the Town Council’s contribution to Witney Carnival for 2026/27 be not agreed at this stage, but the Carnival Committee be encouraged to submit its funding request in good time for consideration as part of the Council’s budget-setting cycle. and,
4. That, Witney Music Festival be asked to provide comprehensive feedback on the 2025 event and Officers prepare a full report for consideration of the grant award for the 2026 Witney Music Festival.