Councillor A. Best in the Chair and Councillors: J. Davies, L. Davies, K. Dawson and J. Powell

Co-opted Member: J. Cook

Officers: L. Trigg (attended the meeting virtually on Teams), R. Edwards, L. Fleetwood and T. Williams

Note: At the start of the meeting and in the absence of the Sub-Committee Chairman and the Sub-Committee Vice Chairman, the Deputy Town Mayor, Councillor Andrew Best, was appointed to take the chair for the meeting.

By Chairman’s invitation: No Requests

Councillors: A. Burgess, J. Hood, B. Kenney, R. Kenney, J. Metters and A. Mottershead

Councillors: J. Hood, B. Kenney, R. Kenney, J. Metters and A. Mottershead

None made.

None received.

None received.

The Minutes of the Tourism & Town Promotion Sub-Committee meeting held on 16 September 2025 (Minute Numbers TTP26/010 – TTP26/016), were approved as a correct record.

The Sub-Committee considered the Town Council’s Calendar of Events and gave updates on events that had taken place:

2025 – Taken Place

• • Vegan Market (20 September 2025)
• Good reports had been received about the Vegan Market with lots of stalls and variety of produce/goods on offer.
• • Classic Car Event (27 September 2025)
• The Classic Car show was a successful well attended event with impressive numbers visiting town to view the exhibits.

2025/2026 – Upcoming/Agreed

The following events to be hosted by the Town Council, and their agreed dates, were noted by the Sub-Committee:

• • Christmas Lights Switch-On (Thursday 20 November 2025)
• The Chairman reported that preparations for the Switch-On were in hand and that volunteer stewards had been recruited.
• • Texas Flag Raising, marking the anniversary of Texas joining the Union on 29 December 1845 (Monday 29 December 2025)
• Councillor Davies advised the Sub-Committee that the usual arrangements would apply with the December 2025 event being low key.
• • Texas Flag Raising, marking Texas State’s independence from Mexico (Saturday 7 March 2026)
• Councillor Davies advised the Sub-Committee that the usual arrangements would apply in March 2026.

Other Events

In the absence of the Sub-Committee Chairman, Councillor Hood, the detailed arrangements for the other events listed on the agenda were not discussed at this time.

• • Any suggested new future events
• The Chairman invited Sub-Committee members to put forward new ideas for events in 2026.
• Suggestions were made that the Sub-Committee should consider a formal opening of the Heritage Centre and an Armed Forces Day event.

The Chairman invited co-ordinators from each Working Group to address the Sub-Committee:

Remembrance Plaques Working Group

Councillor L. Davies advised the Sub-Committee that the Remembrance plaques continued to be a work in progress.

It was suggested the Remembrance Plaques project could be launched at the same time as the opening of the Heritage centre. The plaques have been designed and locations for installation identified.

The Working Group may be ready for its report to be considered by the General Purposes Committee after a Tourism & Town Promotion Sub-Committee meeting, early in the New Year.

Market Strategy Working Group

The Town Clerk advised the Sub-Committee that the Markets Working Group had not yet arranged their meeting.

Friendship Agreement Working Group

Councillor J. Davies advised the Sub-Committee that a draft policy document had been formulated but the Friendship Agreement Working Group would be meeting when the direction of local government reorganisation was clearer. He said that future changes to the structure of local government would have an important impact on friendship arrangements.