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Minutes of the Tourism Committee Meeting held in the Council Chamber, Town Hall Tuesday 7th September 2021 at 6.00 pm

 

PRESENT:

East Ward:

Councillor Mrs J Gubb (Chairman)

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


032.   TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND REASONS FOR ABSENCE

Councillor Mrs Corfe (West Ward) – personal.

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

Councillor Hawkins – Agenda Item 5 – pecuniary. Councillor Hawkins had received £25 in donations for his Hedgehog Hotel project, through the Tourism Committee.

034.   PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION

There were no members of the public present.

035.   MINUTES

Proposed by Councillor Bushby and seconded by Councillor Lawrence, the minutes of the meeting held on 20th July 2021 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Vote – For: 5, Against: 0)

036.   TO RECEIVE A DE-BRIEF ON CHUDLEIGH MEMORIAL CENTENARY PICNIC AND CONSIDER KEEPING THE EVENT IN PERPETUITY

The Chairman was very pleased with the event and asked members for their feedback. All were happy that the number of people who had turned out for the event, the weather had been a contributory factor. They were pleased with the relaxed family atmosphere, and all aspects of what had been organised.

The Clerk had circulated emails from Councillors Mrs Craigie and James Craigie, giving their feedback as ETW In Bloom. Both were delighted and informed members that they considered that there were around 200 people attending and donations to ETW in Bloom had been generous. They both conveyed their thanks to the Tourism Committee members and hoped the event could go ahead next year. They also noted that further events could be organised, using Chudleigh.

Members formally wished to thank everyone who had participated, and asked the Clerk to write to the following to thank them, as indicated in Councillor Mrs Craigie’s email:

• Bideford Archive
• Asda Community Champion
• Also, a nearby resident for their use of electricity and water, the Clerk would ask Councillor Mrs Craigie if she could find out the name of this kind donor.

Members praised individual participants ie Rev. Claire Rose-Casemore the Face painter, SwissMiss Cakes and Bakes who had donated her profits to ETW in Bloom, Hockings Ice Cream, the Pannier Pantry and also thanked the Pannier Market for the use of their giant games.

Councillor Bushby had noted that the access gate was in a terrible state of repair and would bring this to the attention of Torridge District Council, who are responsible for the upkeep of Chudleigh Fort and the gates.

The Chairman asked members about organising an event for 2022 of the same type – perhaps calling it Chudleigh Picnic (this year was the Centenary of the Memorial). All members agreed and discussed future additions in the form of portable toilet facilities and children’s activities and games.

Members discussed a date for the event in 2022, trying not to clash with other events. It was agreed that the first weekend in September would be a good time.

Proposed by: Councillor Bushby and seconded by Councillor Mrs Langford

RECOMMENDED: That Chudleigh Picnic should be organised for 2022, with the addition of portable toilets and more entertainment and games for the children, using the same format as this year.

(Vote – For: 5, Against: 0)

037.   TO RECEIVE UPDATES ON ORGANISING THE CELEBRATIONS FOR HM THE QUEENS PLATINUM JUBILEE IN JUNE 2022

The Chairman reminded members that there were two Town Council led events going on in one day: Bideford Fair and Beacon Lighting. She asked members how they felt about paying an outside organiser to pull Bideford Fair together, using the Town Council’s format. Her reason for asking was because it will be a very long day for Councillors to be running both events and by bringing someone in for Bideford Fair would mean Councillors could properly concentrate on the Beacon Lighting event at Pollyfield. She added that she would like to approach South West Event Management for this, having worked with them at Bideford Fair in 2019. She was confident that they would respect this family orientated event.

Members discussed all aspects of this idea and asked that the format had to stay the same as a usual Bideford Fair day. The Chairman assured them that most attractions were already in place and it would be a handover of that information and guidelines as to how it should be run. She added, after being asked, that the organiser could bring in more locally based attractions, with this Committee’s approval. It was, she said, of great importance to make sure the Bideford Fair side of the celebrations was the best it could be for such an important occasion.

Councillor Mrs Langford agreed that the event needed to be the best it could be and if by bringing in an organiser, it could be even better, it was the right path to take.

The Chairman noted that there would probably be monies available in the budget for this occasion and was confident that the costs would be within the scope of the Tourism budget which would be set at the next meeting. She concluded that she would make enquiries regarding costs.

Proposed by: Councillor Mrs Gubb and seconded by Councillor Mrs Langford

RECOMMENDED: That the Chairman contact South West Event Management with a view to organising the Bideford Fair side of the Jubilee celebrations, and obtain costings.

(Vote – For: 5, Against: 0)

038.   TO DECIDE UPON A THEME FOR THE PORT MEMORIAL DECORATIVE BED FOR 2022

All members agreed that the display would be in celebration of HM The Queen’s 70th Jubilee.

Councillor Bushby suggested that, rather than have a worded decoration using plug plants in the bed at the Port Memorial, that there should be a display of colourful flowers – to make a real show of colour. He added that there could be a sign attached to the back of the frame, taking up the width of the flower bed with a design depicting the Royal Standard and wording appropriate for the celebrations.

The Clerk explained that this would be totally different to what has been done before and that plants would be used as opposed to plugs. She would speak with the Maintenance Supervisor about this and about producing a frame to be attached to the back of the display bed. She would further come back with an idea of a design for the sign and the feedback from the Maintenance Supervisor.

The Clerk would produce the write-up for the explanatory notice board at the site.

039.   TO DISCUSS ORGANISING A CHILDREN’S PARTY LATER IN THE YEAR, AT THE PANNIER MARKET

The Chairman asked members for their thoughts on organising a family/children’s party at the Pannier Market, leading up to Christmas. Permission would need to be sought from the Pannier Market beforehand.

Councillor Lawrence would make enquiries about this and email the results to members. The Clerk would check with the Development Officer that nothing had already been planned along these lines.

Councillor Bushby suggested that the event is in the form of a proper party and that it should run from 12 noon until 4pm on a Sunday in December, with appropriate party food available with compliments of this Council.

Members agreed that a provisional date of Sunday 12th December be pencilled in.

040.   TO CONSIDER THE CREAM TEA EVENT FOR 2022

The Chairman asked if the Cream Tea Festival would go ahead in 2022 and what date would be set.

Councillor Lawrence suggested that Sunday 15th May 2022 be set and asked the Clerk to contact the previous sponsors to find out if they would still be interested in supporting the event. The Clerk agreed and added that she would check that there were no other bookings in the Pannier Market for that date and that she would ask the Market Development Officer for his assistance in organising the event, perhaps on the Marketing side.

Councillor Lawrence asked the Clerk to draft a letter to the previous participants, whilst he would make start on suppliers of the ingredients.

Proposed by Councillor Lawrence and seconded by Councillor Bushby

RECOMMENDED: That the Cream Tea Festival is to go ahead on Sunday 15th May 2022 in the Pannier Market in the format previously arranged, with the involvement of the Market Development Officer.

(Vote – For: 5, Against: 0)

 

Councillor Bushby asked the Chairman to re-introduce an item to the Tourism Agendas for discussing further ideas pertinent to the Tourism Committee. The Chairman asked the Clerk to make a note for the next meeting.

041.   DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING 

Tuesday 19th October 2021 at 6.00pm.`.

 

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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