Issue - meetings

Report of Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety

Purpose of report

To respond to the motion raised at full council in October 2025 requesting Executive to consider supporting young women’s community action for safe public spaces.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1     To be supportive of the principles identified in the motion set out in paragraph 2.1 of the report.

1.2     To continue to support the initiatives identified in the motion through its Community Safety Team, through partnerships such as the Cherwell Community Safety Partnership and the area oversight groups, through engagement with organisers of community initiatives, specifically those referenced in the motion, and by using our communication channels to promote and support these initiatives.

Resolved

(1)          That the principles identified in the motion be supported.

(2)          That it be agreed to continue to support the initiatives identified in the motion through the Community Safety Team, through partnerships such as the Cherwell Community Safety Partnership and the area oversight groups, through engagement with organisers of community initiatives, specifically those referenced in the motion, and by using our communication channels to promote and support these initiatives.

The Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety submitted a report to respond to the motion raised at full council in October 2025 requesting Executive to consider supporting young women’s community action for safe public spaces.

Councillor Dr Thornhill, proposer of the motion, thanked Executive for the response both at this meeting and the October Council meeting as which the motion was presented. The motion was designed to foster collaboration and problem solving across all kinds of political backgrounds and the response reflected this. Councillor Dr Thornhill also thanked officers involved in producing the report and the action that had been taken by the Community Safety Team. Whilst it was acknowledged that Cherwell was generally safe, crime statistics were only a small part and not all crimes were reported or didn’t meet the crime reporting threshold, it was important to have these initiatives and hoped that it would move forward with a strong sense of commitment.

In response to Councillor Dr Thornhill’s comments, the Chair advised that Executive took the content of the motion seriously as it was a very important issue and invited Councillor Dr Thornhill to put forward any further comments to ensure benefit from her expertise.

Resolved

(1)            That the principles identified in the motion be supported.

(2)            That it be agreed to continue to support the initiatives identified in the motion through the Community Safety Team, through partnerships such as the Cherwell Community Safety Partnership and the area oversight groups, through engagement with organisers of community initiatives, specifically those referenced in the motion, and by using our communication channels to promote and support these initiatives.

Reasons

To respond to the motion raised at full council in October 2025 requesting Executive to consider supporting young women’s community action for safe public spaces.

The council recognises the value and importance of community led initiatives in this space and will provide advice and networking opportunities for groups to benefit from as needed. Contact will be made with the organisers of the initiatives referred to in the motion to see how support might be provided. The promotion of the work already underway to make it more visible and easier to connect with for voluntary schemes or businesses will highlight the depth and consistency of the work already delivered by the Community Safety Team.

Alternative options

No alternative options have been identified.