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Minutes of the Tourism Committee Meeting held in the Town Hall, Bideford onTuesday 23rd July 2019 at 6.00 pm

 

PRESENT:

East Ward:        Councillor Mrs J Gubb

West Ward:       Councillor C Hawkins

South Ward:      Councillors Mrs S Langford

North Ward:       Councillor D Bushby

Northam TC:     Councillor B Edwards

 

IN ATTENDANCE:
Mrs L Dixon-Chatfield, Town Clerk’s Asst



013.      APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

No apologies were received.

014.      DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

Councillor Mrs J Gubb (East Ward) Item 5, non-pecuniary.

015.      PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION

No members of the public were present.

016.      MINUTES

Proposed by Councillor Bushby, and seconded by Councillor Hawkins, the minutes of the meeting held on 4th June 2019 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Vote – For: 4, Against: 0 , Abstentions: 1)

017.      TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON BIDEFORD FAIR 2019 AND DISCUSS THE OUTCOME. TO DISCUSS THE EVENT FOR 2020 AND, IF APPROPRIATE, RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL ANY ACTIONS REQUIRED

The Chairman thanked all those who helped with the organisation and on the day itself. She felt more confident that the 2020 event would go ahead with better preparation and was pleased to inform members that Lucy from South West Event Management would be able to assist. Many of the stallholders were very pleased with the event and some felt it was busier than 2018.

Some of the attractions were discussed and it was agreed that it would refresh the event and encourage more visitors to have more sporting participants and a main attraction. Councillor Bushby suggested Jonathan Marshall and his dancing horses and birds of prey. He used to be the falconer at the Milly Way Adventure Park and the Councillor had seen his show recently which was hugely popular. The Clerk would look at the website and find out costs.

The Chairman asked members to consider a date for next year’s event and if the Fair would take on the 2020 celebrations of Sir Richard Grenville’s Lost Colony, combining with the Water Festival to expand the event.

Members preferred not to join with the Rotary Water Festival so that nothing would detract from their event, and some discussion followed whether to hold the Fair before the summer break or during. A date was agreed of Saturday 8th August 2020, but the Chairman said she would confirm once she had spoken to Lucy to check when her Music Day(s) would be held (historically the first weekend in August). Lucy had thought to put on children’s workshops after her event, during the following week, which would involve making costumes, these could be paraded in Victoria Park at Bideford Fair with the Mayor presenting the prize.

Councillor Mrs Shirley Langford offered to get in touch with the Boxing Club to see if they would like to be involved, and the Atlantic Racquet Centre. The Clerk would contact the Kingsley Judo Club. It was agreed, generally, to have more sporting activities and to contact more sport organisations and clubs.

Councillor Bushby wanted the event to be more widely promoted, using The Voice, The Gazette and social media, he asked about long term banners, perhaps six of them, of good enough quality to last and just change the date each year. Costings would need to be investigated; Councillor Hawkins would check with BAPS in Westward Ho! Councillor Bushby pressed that it would be important to involve BoBB in the promotion.

The Chairman concluded that there was a plan in place and now, with a forward date, she and the Clerk could start booking attractions.

018.       TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON EVENTS IN NORTHAM BOROUGH

Councillor Edwards reported that with Northam May Fair finished, the organisers had started on next year’s event. The use their Maintenance team to set up the marquee. The Viking Settlement had been booked again for 2020. Councillor Bushby was interested in this attraction as he had attended Northam May Fair and was impressed with the authenticity of it all. He asked Councillor Edwards if he would be kind enough to forward approximate costs of booking the group, Councillor Edwards suggested the Clerk contact the Northam Town Clerk who would have the details.

He explained that the Summer Festival would be underway and was the pre-cursor to Appledore/Instow Regatta which would be held on 11th August.

The Book Festival would be in September this year, Councillor Edwards informed members, from 20th to 28th with some excellent speakers. This event had originally started in order to save Appledore Library and had become so popular now, that larger venues outside Appledore were needing to be booked.

The last event planned for Northam Burrough is Late Night Shopping Weekend on the first weekend in December, where most shops give out mulled wine and mince pies.

Councillor Edwards was pleased to be part of the Tourism Committee, he felt it was good for everyone to mix ideas and resources and, indeed, check that events between the two parishes were not clashing.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Edwards.

019.      TO CONSIDER A CLEAN UP DAY LATER IN THE SUMMER AND, IF APPROPRIATE, RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL ANY ACTIONS REQUIRED

Councillor Bushby opened the item by saying he did not realise how difficult and time consuming it would be to clean off the lamp posts, but he was happy to carry on with the task at the next Clean up.

Councillor Mrs Langford was concerned that there was little that the Maintenance Team could do about the graffiti on utility boxes, the Clerk explained that because they are private property we could be liable for any damage caused. The Councillor suggested that a voluntary group could be put together to tackle the problem and would need graffiti kits. The Clerk suggested she find out where these could be sourced.

The Clerk informed members that she had received a call from Costa Coffee who would be putting a litter picking team together, to highlight their shop opening. They would be willing to be involved in any Clean Up days. She reminded members that McDonalds also put teams together for Clean Up days. Councillor Mrs Langford suggested the McDonalds team could be deployed with her in Clovelly Road. The Clerk would organise this with McDonalds.

The Chairman suggested that a complete Bideford Clean Up be organised for Sunday 13th October with groups forming in various areas of Bideford, both East and West. Time 10am – 1pm. The Clerk would start organising and put the date on the Bideford Town Centre Partnership agenda.

020.      TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE DECORATIVE ARTWORK IN COOPER STREET AND, IF APPROPRIATE, RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL ANY ACTIONS REQUIRED.

Councillor Bushby explained that he had been led to believe that the first two sculptures would be installed this week and was disappointed to see that they had not. He would make pertinent enquiries.

021.       TO OPENLY DISCUSS IDEAS AND PROJECTS FOR THE TOUISM COMMITTEE TO PROGRESS AND, IF APPROPRIATE, RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL ANY ACTIONS REQUIRED.

The Chairman asked members for ideas that they may have to progress through the Tourism Committee, she added that it would be preferred if they could carry the idea through themselves. She opened up the floor.

Councillor Mrs Langford suggested contacting the Up-Close Theatre to see how far the previous Chairman had progressed with his idea to bring the Bideford Witches Trial re-enactment to the Town Hall. The Clerk agreed to call the group and find out more. The Councillor had an idea to involve Bideford College with a drama presentation in this building.

Councillor Hawkins mentioned that the Pannier Market would be holding a Pirate Day on Saturday 3rd August.

The Chairman asked members to think about projects ready for the next meeting so that the Tourism Committee could progress and have a purpose. She would find out what the residue of budget was for the remainder of this year.

022.      The date of the next meeting will be Tuesday 3rd September 2019.

 

The business of the meeting having been completed, the Chairman thanked the members for their attendance and the meeting concluded at 7.10 pm.


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