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 received an update on the Witney: Past, Present and Future Working Party, together with the notes of the previous meeting. The Committee noted some apprehension expressed by young people about the event and reiterated its intention for the event to be celebratory and inclusive, per what was being planned.

Further updates were provided on engagement for the Advent Fayre in November, Witney Carnival 2026 and Heritage Open Day.

It was agreed that the Council should facilitate SEND sessions at this year’s Advent Fayre, retain the wheelbarrow competition at the Carnival with the necessary resources in place, and mark Heritage Open Day in collaboration with local heritage contacts. A wider Visit Witney project was also noted.

Finally, the Committee considered a request to fly the Council of Europe flag annually in May from the Town Hall. The request was assessed against the Council’s flag-flying criteria and, subject to the flag being donated and no planning legislation being contravened, the Committee agreed that the flag could be flown.

The Committee also noted the Community Insight Profile Steering Group notes from 2 December 2025 which were appended to the report.

Recommended:

1.         That, the report be noted and,

2.         That, the proposed small-scale, family friendly format for St George’s Day events, with activities split across 23^rd and 26^th April 2026, be approved and,

3.         That, the introduction of dedicated SEND friendly sessions at future Advent Fayres be approved and,

4.         That, the success of the Christmas Lights Engagement event in the Gallery Room be noted and use by the ICE Centre in 2026 be approved, subject to capacity and,

5.         That, the Schools in Bloom wheelbarrow competition be judged at Witney Carnival, subject to officers being delegated responsibility for agreeing a pragmatic solution for storage and staff facilitation and,

6.         That, officers develop a low-cost partnership event for Heritage Open Days 2026, working with local heritage partners and,

7.         That, the Council of Europe flag be flown from the Town Hall annually, subject to its donation and appropriate planning consent, if required.