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Minutes of the Tourism Committee Meeting held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Tuesday 18th October 2022 at 6.00 pm
 
 
PRESENT:
 
East Ward:
 
Councillor Mrs J Gubb (Town Mayor)
 
South Ward:
 
Councillor Mrs S Langford
Councillor S Inch (Chairman)
 
North Ward:
 
Councillor D Bushby
 
West Ward:
 
Councillor C Hawkins
 
IN ATTENDANCE:
 
Mrs L Dixon-Chatfield, Town Clerk’s Asst
 
 
021.   TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND REASONS FOR ABSENCE
 
Councillor P Lawrence (South Ward) – illness.
 
 
022.   TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
 
No declarations were received at this part of the meeting.
 
 
023.   PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION
 
There were no members of the public in attendance.
 
 
024.   MINUTES
 
Proposed by Councillor Hawkins and seconded by Councillor Mrs Gubb, the minutes of the meeting held on 6th September 2022 were approved and signed as a correct record.  
 
(Vote – For: 5, Against: 0)
 
025.   TO DISCUSS AND UPDATE ON THE IDEA OF BIDEFORD’S GOT TALENT
 
The Clerk had arranged a meeting with Lucy Lowe for Tuesday 2nd November at 5.30pm to discuss the event as well as Bideford Fair.  
 
In the meantime, Lucy would contact Merlin who had won Britain’s Got Talent to ask if he would be a judge.  
 
Details would be discussed at the forthcoming meeting.
 
 
026.   TO RECEIVE DETAILS AND DISCUSS THE CONCEPT OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE
 
Councillor Bushby had been in contact with the supplier of the vehicle that had been favourably seen by members as a future prospect.  Unfortunately, he explained that this particular vehicle (that was used by the National Trust) was not legally roadworthy and was for private land use only.  He concluded that the company were in the process of getting approval for roadworthiness.
 
The Chairman asked for the item to be removed from further agendas until the subject becomes relevant again.
 
 
027.   TO DISCUSS AND CONFIRM THE THEME FOR THE PORT MEMORIAL DECORATIVE BED FOR 2023
 
The Clerk asked members if they still wished to continue with the original concent of commemorating the first Bideford Charter or if they wished to celebrate the Coronation. 
 
Members preferred to use the flower bed to Commemorate 450 years of the first Charter as this is a very important local event.  
 
The Clerk explained that the backboard from the last display was not re-usable and Councillor Bushby explained the technical issues with re-using the materials.  He added that we had a cost of producing a new board from before.  
 
The Clerk explained that she had spoken with the Maintenance Supervisor about the design and would look at the costing of using plugs for the wording “1873 – 2023 – Bideford 450 Years” and if it came within the budget would members be happy with this as well as flowers?  Members agreed.  If the costing was not viable, just a colourful display of flowers could be planted. 
 
The Clerk would produce a draft design of the backboard for the next meeting.
 
 
028.   TO DISCUSS IDEAS FOR CELEBRATING BIDEFORD’S 450TH ANNIVERSARY
 
The Chairman pointed out that Councillor Christie had requested that this item be continued on the Tourism Agenda and the Town Council Agenda.  He had further requested that the centenaries since the Charter was granted are depicted.
The Clerk suggested that this Council contact all other organisers and ask if they could include the 450th commemoration in their events some way (even if in a small way).  Members agreed that such an important occasion for Bideford needed to be made as public as possible.
 
Members discussed various ways of celebrating and whether to use Bideford Fair (3rd June) as the main celebration or the date itself (10th December).  They agreed the following:
 
• Bideford Fair as the main celebration with a Procession/Pageant from each century
• Speak to Bideford 500 regarding re-enactment of the “Signing of the Charter” at Bideford Fair and costumes/involvement
• An Exhibition in the Town Hall and Historical Talk (perhaps in December) or ongoing as part of the Town Hall Tours
 
More details could be discussed with Lucy Lowe at the meeting on 2nd November. 
 
Members agreed to invite Councillor Christie to the meetings including the informal one with Lucy Lowe.
 
029.   TO DISCUSS IDEAS FOR CELEBRATING THE KING’S CORONATION IN MAY 2023
 
Members discussed ideas for celebrating the King’s Coronation on 6th May 2023.  They felt that permanency was important and the following outline ideas were put forward:
 
• Commissioning of decorative railings at Victoria Park, near to Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday railings.  Councillor Bushby felt that this was a focus point for Royal events.  These could be unveiled by the Mayor on Coronation Day depending upon the time of the Coronation. The Clerk would pass on contact details for a blacksmith to him to pursue this possibility.
• Planting of a Rose bed at the Port Memorial (next to the Art Centre).  Permission from DCC would be needed for this.
• Commemorative benches on sites on both sides of the River. 
• A Commemorative medal for the schoolchildren.  The Chairman pointed out that these had been produced and that Councillor Christie had handed one from 1902 to the Town Council – made of pewter.  The Clerk would contact Northam Town Council to find out where they sourced their Jubilee medals from.  
 
Members were of the opinion that more needed to be known of the Coronation arrangements ie Beacon Lighting, the time of the Coronation etc before any other arrangements could be made.  
 
030.   TO AGREE THE BUDGET FOR 2023/24
 
Members discussed the budget:
 
Spend to date:
 
Port Memorial Decorative Bed               £   778.00
Chudleigh Picnic                                   £   981.50
Bideford Fair – Jubilee                           £5,139.00
Beacon Lighting – Jubilee                     £4,750.00
TOTAL                                                 £11,648.50
 
 
Anticipated spend 2023/24
 
Bideford Fair                                      £3,000
450 years Celebration                       £3,000
Port Memorial Decorative bed           £1,500
Coronation                                        £3,000
Chudleigh Picnic                               £3,000
Bideford’s Got Talent                        £2,000
TOTAL                                           £15,500.00
 
Members noted that in order for the Town Clerk and Chair of SFGP to put a projected budget together for the Maintenance Unit building Works Loan, a figure of £12,500 was put forward for Tourism.  At this time neither the King’s Coronation or the 450th Celebrations were factored in. 
 
The Clerk added that there would be an underspend on the 2022/23 budget.
 
Councillor Bushby was confident that the extra spend for 2023/24 could be met.
 
Proposed by:  Councillor Bushby and seconded by Councillor Mrs Gubb, and
 
RECOMMENDED:  That the budget of £15,500 is agreed.  
 
(Vote:  For: 5, Against: 0)
 
 
031.   DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
 
Members noted that the next scheduled Tourism Committee meeting was to be held on Tuesday 6th December.  They agreed the date needed to be changed as this was the Pannier Market Late Night Shopping event and as half the Tourism Committee are also Market Management Committee members, the dates would clash.  
 
Members agreed that Wednesday 7th December 2022 at 6.00pm would be the date for the next Tourism Committee meeting. 
 
 
The business of the meeting having been completed, the Chairman thanked the members for their attendance and the meeting concluded at 6.45 pm.
 
 
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                        

 


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