DECISION

RIBBLE VALLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL

REPORT TO POLICY & FINANCE COMMITTEE

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meeting date:	9 November 2021

title:	PLATINUM JUBILEE

submitted by:	CHIEF EXECUTIVE

principal author:	MARSHAL SCOTT

1	PURPOSE

1.1	To consider how the Council celebrates and commemorates the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

2	BACKGROUND

2.1	On 2 June 2022 we will celebrate another milestone in our history. Her Majesty the Queen’s 70th Year as our Monarch and Head of the Commonwealth – her Platinum Jubilee.

2.2	It is a feat no Monarch has achieved and unlikely to be repeated.

2.3	The Council needs to consider how it wishes to celebrate and commemorate this unique event.

3	MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION

3.1	Having discussed at officer level what options are available we would suggest the following to be worthy of consideration.

3.1.1	Beacon Lighting - we have been invited by the Pageant Master, Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR to consider taking part in the lighting of a Jubilee Beacon [see letter attached) at Annex 1.

On the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee in 2012 a Beacon was lit by the then Mayor, Councillor Ian Sayers on the Castle Keep. We would suggest doing something similar next year.

As you can see, the Beacon will be lit at 9.15pm on the evening of 2 June 2022. We are also considering whether we can light the Castle Keep or have a laser rather than the Beacon Torch we purchased last time. The guide to taking part makes some other suggestions and ideas for the Beacon lighting ceremony.

3.1.2	Encouraging our Parish and Town Council’s to take part in the Celebrations – The Platinum Jubilee Weekend will take place between the 2nd & 5th June 2022 and we anticipate that many of our parishes will be organising their own events. Committee may want to consider a grant to each of our parishes to contribute to whatever celebrations are taking place in their area. A grant of £250 to each Parish would cost £10,000.

3.1.3	Commemorating the Platinum Jubilee - The Council may also wish to commemorate the Jubilee. One suggestion which I believe is to be encouraged is to take part in the Queen’s Green Canopy, which is a national initiative to see trees planted across the United Kingdom as a living reminder of the Platinum Jubilee.

3.1.4	A number of other suggestions have come forward from staff and councillors which I have attached for your consideration at Annex 2.

4	RISK ASSESSMENT

4.1	Resources – Committee needs to consider which of these options to pursue and create a budget for the Platinum Jubilee.

Technical, Environmental and Legal – N/A

Political – N/A

Reputation – The Council needs to take a lead and actively promote the celebration of this momentous occasion.

Equality & Diversity – N/A

5	RECOMMENDED THAT COMMITTEE / CONCLUSION

5.1	Consider whether to support:

(i)	Beacon Lighting

(ii)	Grants to Parishes

(iii)	Commemorating the Platinum Jubilee and if so, whether a small Task and Finish	Group is created to finalise the Council’s plans.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE