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Minutes of the Tourism Committee Meeting held in the Town Hall, Bideford on Tuesday 28 January 2020 at 6.00 pm

 

PRESENT:

East Ward:

Councillor Mrs J Gubb (Chairman)
Councillor J McKenzie (substitute for Councillor C Hawkins)

South Ward:

Councillors Mrs S Langford
Councillor P Lawrence

North Ward:

Councillor D Bushby


IN ATTENDANCE:

Mrs L Dixon-Chatfield, Town Clerk’s Asst



060.      APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Cllr C Hawkins (West Ward) - Personal
Cllr Mrs K Corfe (West Ward) - Illness

061.      DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

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

062.      PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION

No members of the public were present.

063.      MINUTES

Proposed by Councillor Bushby and seconded by Councillor Lawrence, the minutes of the meeting held on 17th December 2019 were approved and signed as a correct record.

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

064.      TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON EVENTS IN NORTHAM BOROUGH

No updates were available as Councillor Edwards was not present.

065.     TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON BIDEFORD FAIR 2020 PROGRESS, AND, IF APPROPRIATE, RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL ANY ACTIONS REQUIRED

The Chairman was pleased to see more participants booking for the event. The Clerk had circulated a list of who had booked and who was still to confirm, she was in the process of encouraging the latter to get their bookings in.

Councillors Mrs Langford agreed to follow up the Boxing Club who had originally agreed to join in and she asked if the Reds and Blues had been contacted. The Clerk said she would email them.

The Chairman explained that food traders and all participants would need to be observing the Plastic Free status of the Town Council and food outlets to this end were being sourced. Members asked the Clerk to contact the Plastic Free organisation to see if they wanted a stall for awareness purposes. The Clerk said she would also contact 361 Energy to see if they also wanted to have a presence at the event.

The Chairman concluded that more updates would be coming forward for the next meeting.

066.      TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE CREAM TEA EVENT AND, IF APPROPRIATE, RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL ANY ACTIONS REQUIRED

Councillor Lawrence reported that following a meeting last Monday he had been in touch with Helen Persson regarding marketing the event and she would be able to assist.
He had written his speech for the Launch on Thursday and his running order for the would be:

6.00pm Arrive
6.15pm Speech – followed by questions.
A cream tea will form the refreshments for the launch followed by photos
7.00pm Finish

Councillor Lawrence asked the Clerk what the responses had been like for the Press and Chambers. She was disappointed in the confirmations, although all those who had contacted her to say they could not attend DID want to know more about the event after the launch. Those interested but not attending were Devon Life, ND Gazette, Torrington Chamber of Trade, Barnstaple Chamber of Commerce and The Voice who said they were very happy to have a representative in to conduct an interview on air.

Councillor Lawrence would be taking photos for the promotional material and passing it on to Helen. Councillor Hawkins had set up a web page although had not passed on the link as yet. The Clerk suggested the kite type banners as well as the traditional banners would be good if the budget would allow. Councillor Bushby added that it was important to get banners to as many places as possible.

A short discussion followed regarding an idea from the previous Tourism Committee, of a Mobile Billboard, which would have been perfect for this type of advertising. He was of the opinion that a budget had been set for a Mobile Billboard. The Clerk said she would find out if there were any printers locally that could handle an 8ft x 4ft banner. The Chairman suggested the subject be brought up at the next meeting and asked for it to be put onto the Agenda.

Councillor Lawrence concluded that once the Launch had been done, everything could start moving forward. A plan would need to be made of the Pannier Market to see how it would be set out. Judges would need to be invited.

He looked forward to seeing members of the Tourism Committee at the Launch on Thursday.

067.     TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON ACTIONS SO FAR AND DISCUSS PROGRESS OF THE VE 75TH CELEBRATIONS AND, IF APPROPRIATE, RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL ANY ACTIONS REQUIRED.

The Clerk had handed round an update on the itinerary. Regarding the Parade, Councillor Bushby wanted to know why the formation could not enter at the South end of the Pannier Market. The Clerk said that at a Parade meeting with the Town Marshall, it was felt that the main entrance to the Pannier Market would work better, but she said she would speak to the Parade organisers to get a better picture.

Councillor Bushby suggested that the Masons be invited to join the Parade, as the Lodges had been instrumental during WWII. Further suggestions were to invite the Police, Fire Service and Coastguards to join the Parade.

With regard to the Pannier Market celebrations, Councillor McKenzie confirmed that the numbers for the Market Hall are 440. The Clerk said that 440 tickets would be issued but that all those present and those in the Parade would need to be deducted and whatever left would be available to the public. It was anticipated that there would be in the region of 250 tickets for the public. Free of charge but on application. This way numbers could be restricted to the capacity of the Market Hall.

There was further discussion about how the mechanism would work for the public applying for tickets and should this be on a “first come, first served” basis for all, or prioritised for Bideford residents. It would be necessary to offer tickets through the ND Gazette, social media, our website and by telephone. Tickets would take the form of a ration book.

Councillor Bushby was pleased with the entertainment offered and felt that the afternoon would be a success. He had been in touch with a 1940’s dance group and was hoping to bring them in to do a dancing display and maybe encourage the public to “get up and have a dance”.
Councillor Bushby also offered a piece of staging that may help – 7ft x 4ft and 10in high. He and Councillor McKenzie discussed collection of the staging.

Councillor Bushby would have liked the opportunity of having beer at the event but noted in the updated brief that it would be a no-alcohol event.

The Clerk asked Councillor McKenzie for assistance from the Market Management Committee, perhaps by producing a plan for where everything could be positioned. Councillor McKenzie was happy to have the MMC involved in the preparations.

It was requested that the Pannier Galley would not be operational on this occasion, as the space would be necessary. Councillor McKenzie noted this.

The Chairman continued through the brief finalising with the Town Cryer’s National Cry for Peace at 6.55pm and then the National Peal for Peace from St Marys Church. At that time the Pannier Market will close.

068.     TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON UP CLOSE THEATRE AND PLANS TO GO FORWARD WITH FUTURE PERFORMANCES IN THE TOWN HALL AND, IF APPROPRIATE RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL ANY ACTIONS REQUIRED

Councillor Langford had not heard from Up Close for a little while, but this was to be expected as they were busy with another production currently. She had heard about the ticket sales for A Christmas Carol. Councillor Bushby asked the Clerk to send a letter of thanks to Up Close.

Councillor Langford would be in touch with Up Close soon. The Chairman asked the Clerk to keep the item on the agenda for the next meeting.

069.     TO DISCUSS A BUSKERS DAY IN BIDEORD AND, IF APPROPRIATE, RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL ANY ACTIONS REQUIRED.

The Clerk advised members that licences not required by buskers in town. Members were surprised, but Councillor McKenzie confirmed this. There was a brief discussion about using recorded music and licensing.

Councillor Langford suggested that what could work would be to have a buskers day as part of a mini Fringe event. This could incorporate all types of street entertainment and, indeed, Up Close would be keen to be involved in putting on short performances in various venues. Members liked this idea.

The Chairman asked to keep this item on the agenda for the next meeting.

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

Members considered that the Committee had enough to be getting on with but needed to be mindful that events had only been organised up to and including the first week in August and that they may need to consider Autumn Events. The Clerk suggested to Councillor McKenzie that he had, in the previous Committee, shown an interest in a German Market. Councillor McKenzie agreed and added that the Pannier Market would make a great venue, with its fresh new look.

Councillor McKenzie asked if he could attend further Tourism Committee meetings, members showed their approval of his request and invited him to future Tourism meetings.

071.     DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

Tuesday 10th March 2020 at 6pm in the Council Chamber.

 

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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