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Tourism Committee Minutes July 2012


Minutes of the Tourism Committee Meeting held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Bideford on Thursday 19 July 2012 at 6.30 pm

PRESENT:

North Ward:
Councillor D Fulford (Deputy Town Mayor)
Councillor Mrs M P Fulford

South Ward:
Councillor R Wootton

South Ward (Outer):
Councillor A T Powell

East Ward:
Councillor D Howell (Chairman) Councillor R Vanstone

IN ATTENDANCE:
Mrs H J Blackburn (Town Clerk)
1x Member of the public

001 ELECTION OF A CHAIRMAN

Councillor Howell was proposed by Councillor Powell and seconded
RESOLVED: That Councillor Howell is appointed as Chairman of the Committee for the year 2012/2013.
(Vote – For: 6, Against: 0,)

002 ELECTION OF A VICE CHAIRMAN

Councillor Powell was proposed by Councillor Vanstone and seconded

RESOLVED: That Councillor Powell is appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Committee for the year 2012/2013.
(Vote – For: 6, Against: 0,)

003 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

There were no apologies for absence.

004 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

Councillor Howell declared a personal interest in agenda items 7, 9 and 13. (Vice-Chairman of Bideford 500).

Councillor Powell declared a personal interest in agenda items 7, 9 and 13. (Chairman of Bideford 500).

005 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION

A member of the public spoke on agenda item 12.  He expressed concern that the suggestion for a land train may clash with the re-routing of the public bus which is currently being pursued and indeed be a duplication of purpose.

006 BIDEFORD FAIR 2013

Councillor Howell advised that he wanted to see what support there would be for a town fair. A one day event would be organised initially with the possibility of expanding in future years.  He suggested that perhaps a couple of local people could be co-opted onto the committee to help organise such a fair.  Timings were discussed and the preferred option emerged as St Margaret’s Day (23 July).

Proposed by Councillor Powell, seconded and

RECOMMENDED:  That Councillor Howell investigates further the possibility of holding a Bideford Fair on St Margaret’s Day.  He will report back to the Tourism Committee with some firmer plans and costings.

(Vote For: 6, Against: 0)

007 BIDEFORD 500 HERITAGE DAY 2013

Councillor Howell read out an email from Councillor Clarke concerning this agenda item and the suggestions within were taken into consideration.  The following ideas were generated:

The possibility of holding a Heritage Day on a weekly basis throughout the summer.
The possibility of firing the cannon on a regular basis (more people would need to be trained, plus costumes provided).
It was noted that the role of the Council will be driven by the contribution that it is able to deliver during the budget setting process, as financial support will be required for increased activity.
Several ideas were suggested to give the Town Council greater involvement during Heritage Day such as opening the Town Hall for tours and a Town Council parade.

Proposed by Councillor Howell, seconded and

RECOMMENDED:  That the Council is asked for in principle support of Bideford 500 Heritage Day 2013 to be held during the summer holidays and to consider proposals generated by the Tourism Committee once defined.
(Vote For: 6, Against: 0)

008 BIDEFORD WINTER FAIRS
It was noted that the winter fairs (November and February) were being discussed by the Market Management Committee with a view to holding them at the Pannier Market.

Proposed by Councillor Powell, seconded and

RECOMMENDED:  That this agenda item is withdrawn on the basis that the Market Management Committee are progressing this.

(Vote For:  6, Against: 0)

009 FAMILY ORIENTATED STREET THEATRE EVENTS

Councillor Howell explained that the proposal was to hold family orientated, small-scale displays on a regular basis during the summer and on occasion throughout the rest of the year.

The following suggestions/ideas were discussed:

The involvement of local drama students.
The possibility of using the Town Hall for re-enactments with the audience being the judges (A re-enactment of the Witches Trial was muted).
A professional group could be employed to oversee the execution of these events.  An advert could be placed in one or two relevant publications and bids requested.  A specification document would be generated to work from.
Involvement from the Chamber of Commerce could be requested.
May be able to cover some costs via an entry fee/collection bucket.

Proposed by Councillor Powell, seconded and

RECOMMENDED:  That the Town Council sets aside a budget of £5,000 to fund a summer calendar of theatrical events.

(Vote For: 6, Against: 0)

010 JUBILEE SQUARE

Councillor Howell read out an email from a member of the public suggesting that Jubilee Square be used for Farmer’s Markets.  The Committee were unclear as to the licensing arrangements for the use of Jubilee Square.

Proposed by Councillor Powell, seconded and

RECCOMMENDED:  That Councillor Powell raises this at the Bideford Working Group and seeks clarification as to the licensing arrangements for the use of Jubilee Square as a public open space and reports back to the Tourism Committee.

(Vote For: 6, Against: 0)

011 RE-ENACTMENT OF THE WITCHES TRIAL
Proposed by Councillor  Powell, seconded and
RECOMMENDED:  That this agenda item is withdrawn as it had already been discussed under agenda item 9.
(Vote For:  6, Against: 0)

012 PANNIER MARKET ROAD TRAIN

Councillor Wootton explained that the idea behind a road train was to increase footfall and interest in the Pannier Market.

Members were aware that the member of the public present would be able to advise on the progress of his undertaking to have the bus route go past the Pannier Market.

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS

Proposed by Councillor Howell, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That Standing Orders be suspended in order for Mr Pearce to provide members with some information concerning progress with organising the bus route to travel past the Pannier Market.

(Vote – For: 6,  Against:  0)

Mr Pearce advised that progress is currently being held up by the traffic order required and its cost.  It may be that several traffic orders can be grouped together to mitigate the cost, and this is currently being considered.  He advised that a land train would need to take the same route and would therefore encounter the same obstacles.

RETURN TO STANDING ORDERS

Proposed by Councillor Howell, seconded and

RESOLVED:  That Standing Orders be resumed.
(Vote – For:  6,  Against:  0)

Proposed by Councillor Wootton, seconded and

RECOMMENDED:  That this agenda item is withdrawn with a view to seeing what happens with the bus route.

(Vote For: 6, Against: 0)

013 SUPPORT FOR A TOWN INFORMATION CENTRE

Councillor Powell advised that he is part of a group looking to raise 1.2 million to secure Grenville’s birth place; it has recently been confirmed that the former Tavern in the Port houses the remains of a medieval Manor House where Sir Richard Grenville was born.  A business plan is being generated to convert this into a tourist centre for the town, and it is hoped that the Town Council will support citing a town information centre (previously discussed by the Town Council) within the Grenville Manor House.

Concerns were raised about the timescale for securing funding, but Councillor Powell advised that the group only have a finite period of time to secure the Manor House.   It will only be possible to pursue the project if the business plan generated is commercially viable.

Proposed by Councillor Powell, seconded and

RECOMMENDED:  That the Town Council is asked for in principle support for citing a Town Information Centre within the Grenville Manor House in Bridge Street.

(Vote For: 6, Against: 0)

014 DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be held at a date to be agreed after 10 September.

The business of the meeting having been completed, the Chairman thanked the members for their attendance and the meeting concluded at 7.15 pm.

Signature of Town Mayor:  ………………………………….  Date:  ……………………........

Signature of Chairman:  ……………………………………..  Date:  ………………………....


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