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Minutes of the Tourism Committee Meeting held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall on Tuesday 11th May 2021 at 6.00 pm

 

PRESENT:

East Ward:

Councillor Mrs J Gubb (Chairman)
Councillor J McKenzie

South Ward:

Councillors Mrs S Langford
Councillor P Lawrence

North Ward:

Councillor D Bushby

West Ward:

Councillor C Hawkins

IN ATTENDANCE:

Mrs L Dixon-Chatfield, Town Clerk’s Asst


001.    TO ELECT A CHAIRMAN

Councillor Mrs Gubb was proposed by Councillor Bushby and was seconded by Councillor McKenzie.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Mrs J Gubb is appointed as Chairman of the Tourism Committee for the coming year.

(Vote – For: 6, Against: 0)

002.     TO ELECT A VICE CHAIRMAN

Councillor Mrs Langford was proposed by Councillor Bushby and was seconded by Councillor Lawrence.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Mrs Langford is appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Tourism Committee for the coming year.

(Vote – For: 6, Against: 0)

003.     TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND REASONS FOR ABSENCE

Cllr Mrs Corfe (West Ward) – personal

004.     TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

There were no declarations of interest submitted at this point in the meeting.

005.     PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION

There were no members of the public present.

006.     MINUTES

Proposed by Councillor Lawrence and seconded by Councillor McKenzie, the minutes of the meeting held on 6th April 2021 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Vote – For: 6, Against: 0)

007.     TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON BIDEFORD FAIR

The Chairman confirmed that the date was set for Saturday 14th August 2021 subject to the licence. There had been some delay in being granted permission to apply for a licence.
The Clerk explained that she had been assured, after the cancellation of 2020’s event, that the licence would be rolled over to this year, but this had not been the case. After some wrangling with TDC, it was agreed that the 2020 licence could be used with the addition of a Covid-19 Risk Assessment and Covid precautionary measure put in place.
The Chairman and the Clerk would set up a meeting to go through their lists and the requirements for the licence.

The Chairman had still not had a meeting with Cllr Mrs Corfe regarding the latter’s “Thank you to Bideford” into the event and did not know what was intended. She noted to members that she was concerned as a lot of the event is already free not all Bideford people attended.

Members had a brief discussion about whether it was the right time in the event of a possible spike in the disease in the Autumn.

Cllr Bushby asked for a list of the expected participants when it has been drawn up.

The Chairman concluded that she awaited a meeting with Cllr Mrs Corfe.

008.     TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON CHUDLEIGH FETE

The Chairman informed members that Bideford Archive were keen to be involved, and that possibly supply boxed cream teas.

Cllr Mrs Langford felt that care was needed when marketing the event in order to not portray the wrong image ie calling the event a Fete could mislead the public into expecting far more than there would be.
The Clerk reminded members that the original concept was for a family picnic atmosphere, bring your own picnic. She added that she had received the licence application for the event.

Members discussed the layout of the site and agreed a meeting at Chudleigh Fort on Thursday 20th May at 4.30pm. They felt that Cllrs Mrs Craigie and J Craigie should be invited to attend. The Chairman asked members to bring ideas.

009.    TO RECEIVE AN EMAIL REGARDING ETW IN BLOOM IN CHUDLEIGH FORT

Members noted the hard work that was going into the ETW in Bloom project and agreed that it would be lovely to have Chudleigh Fort looking brighter.

With regards to funding, Cllr Bushby asked if Tourism would be able to make a financial gesture to the project. The Clerk pointed out that the budget had already been set and that funds had been allocated to the Chudleigh Fete event. She suggested that perhaps Cllrs who sit on TDC for ETW may like to make a donation from their Community Grant to the ETW In Bloom project, or indeed any BTC Cllrs who sat on TDC. Just a small donation from a few Councillors would buy a lot of plants.

010.    TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE OF THE ORGANISATION OF A BAVARIAN STYLE CHRISTMAS MARKET IN THE PANNIER MARKET

Cllr McKenzie had been speaking to the newly appointed Development Officer, Chris Farris, for the Pannier Market and looking at getting something together for this year, using the outside area as well as the Market Hall.

Members discussed the concern to ensure the event is fully Bavarian with everything that comes with it ie Oompah Band, Food stalls, entertainment. They did not feel a half-hearted attempt would be right.

Cllr McKenzie would work with Chris Farris and come back to the next meeting with more information.
In the event of the Bavarian theme not being possible this year, a Christmas Fair would most certainly go ahead.

011.    TO DISCUSS IDEAS ON HOW TO CELEBRATE HM THE QUEEN’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY AS MONARCH, IN JUNE 2022

The Chairman gave the dates – Thurs 2nd, Fri 3rd, Sat 4th and Sun 5th June 2022. She pointed out that Thurs 2nd and Fri 3rd are both bank holidays and this will be half-term week. Some concerns were mooted regarding the Monarch’s advancing years, but all agreed that a plan in place is better than no plan.

The Clerk asked the Chair if she could put forward an idea. She suggested that we use some of the plan that was put together for the VE Day 75 celebrations, ie a procession of Councillors, pomp and pageantry from the Town Hall to Victoria Park, perhaps arrange a picnic for people and bunting throughout the Town.

Members discussed different ideas, agreeing that the Town Council should start events on the Thursday with the procession. They agreed that it would be good to turn the four days into a culmination of events involving other organising bodies.
Members agreed a working group of other organising bodies. The Clerk agreed to contact Lucy Lowe, The Rotary Club (Water Festival), Chamber, Partnership, Pollyfield Centre and as many others to ascertain if they would like to be part of the working group, of which the basis would be the Tourism Committee members. They asked the Clerk to contact Northam Town Council to find out if they would like representation on the Tourism Committee, as a whole, and especially this working group.

Members also considered bringing Bideford Fair forward to this date and incorporating it into the celebrations.

The Chairman agreed to look at the costs of marquees.

All information would be fed into the next meeting.

012.    DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING.

Members all agreed it was good to be back into physical meetings again and looked forward to many more.

The date of the next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 8th June at 6pm.

 

The business of the meeting having been completed, the Chairman thanked the members for their attendance and the meeting concluded at 6.50 pm.


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