11 November 2025 – Minutes (Draft)
THAME TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Services Committee held on 11 November 2025 at 6.30pm in the Upper Chamber, Thame Town Hall.
Present:
Cllrs D Bretherton, P Cowell (Chair), D Dawson (Deputy Mayor), A Dite, H Dollman, M Dyer, L Emery (Deputy Chair), A Gilbert (Town Mayor), C Jones and A Wainwright.
Non-Voting
Officers
M Sturdy, Town Clerk
L Fuller, Communications Manager
B Surridge, Community Events Officer
J Doherty, Committee Services Officer
1) Apologies for Absence
There were no apologies for absence.
2) Declarations of Interest and Dispensations
There were no declarations of interest or dispensations.
3) Public Participation and Public Questions
1) A resident addressed the committee with a concern regarding Item 6, Flag Flying Policy. Policy reference 3.8.
The resident expressed concern regarding the proposed policy change which states that the Progress Pride Flag would replace the Rainbow Flag if legislation is amended to allow this to be flown without expressed consent. Currently Planning Permission is required to display the Progress Pride Flag. The resident requested that this line be removed until Government legislation permits the Progress Pride Flag to be flown without such permission. They noted that the Progress Pride Flag has become part of a wider debate on gender and identity, the resident noted that the Rainbow Flag is recognised as a broad symbol of solidarity and acceptance. The resident further requested that the decision on the Progress Pride Flag be made openly and democratically by Full Council ensuring every member can contribute, and the public can see that this discussion is balanced and fair.
It was moved that Item 6 be discussed next.
4) Minutes
The Minutes of the Committee Meeting held on 22 July 2025 were received.
RESOLVED that:
i) The minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2025 are confirmed as a correct record, and signed by the Chair.
5) Budget Summary
Members received and noted the Budget Summary up to 30 September 2025.
Sponsorship is currently approaching £7,500 for this year’s Christmas activities. Other sponsorship funds to be allocated.
Noted that the toilet charge was to provide for temporary toilets within the town centre for Thame Fair.
6) Policies
Main reason for this policy review is to discuss the flying of the Union Flag, and Town Flag.
Suggestion in the report is to review the dates to fly the Union Flag. Flags are recognised as iconic; and this Policy review amendment has raised two issues 1) Flying Union Flag 2) Progress Pride Flag. Cllr Gilbert would like the Union Flag to be the default flag. Many visitors to Cllrs at the Market were not aware of the Town Flag.
Discussed the Town Flag, and increasing awareness of the Town Flag. Cllrs note that the Town Flag symbolises community within Thame and is inclusive for all residents.
Noted the Union Flag is at the Memorial Gardens flying continuously, other than during the launch of the Poppy Appeal until Remembrance Day, when the Royal British Legion Remembrance Flag will be flown.
Discussed reviewing item 3.5 the duration of the Union Flag hoisted at full mast. To note officers are looking into how the flags (at both locations) can be illuminated at night without significant cost; note the Memorial Gardens is currently partially lit. In the meantime, the flag at the Town Hall will be raised in the morning, and lowered at the end of the day as per the protocol noted Flying-Flags-in-the-United-Kingdom
RESOLVED that:
i) Remove item 3.8 Progress Pride Flag from the Flag Flying Policy. Policy to be brought back to Full Council should the Progress Pride Flag become Government Legislation. Policy remains as it currently stands.
ii) Policy remains as it currently stands. The Rainbow Pride flag is flown for one week in the month of June, leaving the rest of policy as is and the Town Flag remains default flag for the single post at the Town Hall.
7) Upcoming Events
The Committee noted the following.
a. Emergency Services Day
b. Healthy Thame Fayre
c. Senior Citizens Tea Party 2025
d. Thame Charities Fair/Santa’s Grotto 2025
Cllrs Dite, Wainwright and Cowell to support Santa’s Grotto.
e. Thame Art Crawl
Successful event with many artists selling paintings and items. Noted not all artists were able to sell items or reported sales to Thame Town Council.
f. Thame Fair
Note air quality report due.
g. RAF Halton Volunteer Band
h. LWS Future Fest
Cllrs Dyer, Cowell, Dawson and Gilbert to assist manning the Thame Town Council Stand.
Keen to focus on Apprenticeships and jobs in Government life. To bring awareness to volunteering to benefit CVs and University Applications.
8) Event Dates 2025
Noted.
Event Dates 2026.
Noted.
Committee disappointed and saddened to note Thame Carnival date is not present on the 2026 calendar. Town Council would propose the Carnival Committee (which has now disbanded) discuss the event with Thame Town Council to enable a business case reviewing costs and resources required to be reported to Full Council or Committee Services Committee for further review.
9) Communications & Community Engagement
The report provided is comprehensive. To highlight:
Thame Town Council have regained access to Instagram account and are working on developing Social Media strategy including the utilisation of this platform, recent reel on Thame Art Crawl performed well. Highlighting a top performing post – Poppies around the Town; posts reached 30,000 accounts and received 485 interactions.
Youth and Community Centre Project: The Working Group will review timeline, project plan and look to capture awareness with those who are not on social media.
Communications Strategy: working on strategy to include all events in Thame, Town Guide, Christmas, also will include a plan to raise awareness of the Town Flag.
Residents Survey: Propose issuing a resident’s survey early in 2026 to link the Town Guide to feed responses into the Communications Strategy.
Newsletter: Hard copies are available in the Information Centre and approx. 50 per month are collected on a consistent basis over the past 6 months. Suggestion was made to provide hard copy newsletters to venues to reach those who are not on social media to help increase awareness of Town events. To review.
10) Projects
Thame Town Council are working on utilisation of Upper Chamber especially now that the acoustics have been dramatically improved.
11) Community Partnerships
a. Thame Alliance Group
Noted minutes from Tuesday 7 October 2025.
b. Thame Youth Council
Cllrs Cowell, Gilbert and Dyer, Youth Workers Michelle and Hannah, and the Community Services Manager present met LWS students who were a dynamic, lively and creative group, raised questions and ideas. Next meeting date to be arranged in Spring, around March.
12) Community Safety
a. CCTV
Noted CCTV half yearly reports are available here.
Noted CCTV agreement is progressing, not signed and sealed yet.
Noted Shopwatch is progressing with an anticipated launch date at the beginning of 2026. This will be linked to Thames Valley Policy so hopefully shoplifting will be reported to provide accurate information and statistics.
b. PSPO / Policing / Speedwatch
Noted 15 volunteers signed and training scheduled to take place through November/December.
c. Defibrillators
Staying Alive Group no longer provide maintenance services or support the Defibrillators.
Thame Town Council have become custodians of the eight community defibrillators and are working to review condition carrying out risk assessments to work on a plan showing which of the eight defibrillators need batteries or pads; or if the entire unit needs to be replaced. Pads are single use with a two-year replacement if not used. Batteries need to be replaced every two years; and units are advised to be replaced after 10 years. This can vary from manufacture and model; advice will be undertaken not from those who are quoting for replacements.
Weekly checks are required which we would hope that the guardians of each defibrillator would do.
The two defibrillators which are not in use are at Racquets Gym and the Falcon Pub due to change of hands; we would hope that the current owners would take on the guardianship of the devices at these locations.
The list of the defibrillators is available here with guidance and instructions.
13) Markets
a. Themed & Street Food Markets
Noted.
14) Banking Hub
a. Noted Banking Hub Report
b. Noted Report from Independent Assessor
c. Noted Press Release dated 8 September 2025.
Cllr Dyer reports that Thame will not be receiving a Banking Hub. Noted that the criteria to obtain a Banking Hub is very restrictive. No longer a Town Council issue; but something which Cllr Dyer is keen to continue to review for Thame. Note that HM Treasury have issued a Financial Inclusion Strategy supporting the important commitments to access banking services with the rollout of up to 350 Banking Hubs.
The meeting concluded at 7.32pm
Signed ………………………………
Chair, 17 March 2026