New Alresford Town Council

Minutes of the Tourism Committee Meeting

Wednesday 22nd October 2008

at 6:30pm in the Station Buffet

 

Present: Cllr. Phillips, Cllr. Gentry, Louise McKay (Watercress Line), Ellen Simpson (Winchester Tourism)

Press/Member of Public: Margaret Gould

 

65

Apologies

Cllr. Read, Cllr. Jeffs

 

 

66

Declarations of interest

None

 

 

67

Minutes of the meeting 25th June 2008

Minutes AGREED (Proposer: Cllr Phillips, Seconder: Cllr Gentry)

 

 

68

Public Questions

None.

 

 

69

Budget And Expenditure To Date

 

69.1

Spend to Date:

MP – gave a brief explanation of all Income and Expenditure to Date.  Income lower than hoped at this stage as some hanging basket donations are still outstanding.

 

 

 

Clerk

69.2

Agreed Proposal for 2009/10 budget:

                                               Income                    Expenditure

Hanging Baskets                        5,400                               8,000

Sundries                                                                                300

Telephone                                                                             200

VIP                                                                                       500

Millennium Trail                                                               1,500

Publications-Print&Dist                                                    1,200

Watercress Festival                                                           2,500

Leaflets                                                                              1,200

TOURISM TOTAL                 5,400                             15,400                            Proposed Net Budget  £10,000

 

 

70

Projects

 

70.1

Watercress Festival:

This year the Festival Committee has split into three groups – Event Management, Publicity & PR and Traffic Management.  The plan is to promote the local businesses by allowing them to use the space in front of their shops instead of them being hidden behind stalls from other businesses.  The same applies to the Community Centre.

There are to be 2 stages in Broad Street, one bottom and one top, both with more seating.  Same level of entertainment.  Park’n’Ride at Ropley going ahead.  Plans to extend the parade.  Hoping to have police at the barriers.  Watercress Line proposing to bring out the carriages to re-enact the delivering of the watercress.  RG/MP to raise at next Festival meeting the possibility of the horse & cart travelling up to the station to meet the carriages.

Next Festival meeting to be held on Monday 27th October 2008.

 

 

70.2

Hanging Baskets/Bowser: 

Baskets and Planters currently being taken down.  Bowser is currently with George Cann Machinery where it is to be repaired as necessary.  New armour plated hoses required for definite.  2009 Hanging baskets are due to go up just before the Watercress Festival.

 

 

70.3

Town Sign’s Flowerborders: 

The Rotary Club paid for the construction of the signs and the beds.  The understanding was that the Horticultural Society would take on the maintenance and upkeep of the flower beds.  This doesn’t appear to be happening and the Rotary have been maintaining on an ad hoc basis.  Clerk to contact the Tony Bravery of the Horticultural Society to ascertain their understanding of the arrangement and whether they wish to maintain the flower beds on a regular basis.  Rotary to be kept informed and, if the Horticultural Society don’t want to maintain the beds, Rotary have said they will make other arrangements

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk

70.4

Millennium/Arle Valley Trail Maintenance: 

 

70.4.1

Thanks go to David Goodman, the team from Wednesday Conservation Volunteers and everyone else that helped with the works carried out on 24 September 2008.  Great job again by all involved.  Clerk is due to submit claim to HCC for this work and request the landowner’s promised contribution.

David Goodman has proposed that OAPC applies to HCC for a 50% “Countryside Access Grant” for work required on the Arle Valley trail between the Eel House and Drove Lane.  The committee agreed with MP’s suggestion that NATC would consider matching OAPC contribution to this work.  Concern was expressed whether OAPC would have funds to contribute and it was recommended they are reminded to make allowances for the cost in developing their 2009/10 precept.

 

Clerk

 

 

MP

/D Goodman



70.4.2

Still no response from HCC with regards to the scagg cut along the Trail.  Clerk to chase

 

Clerk

70.4.3

WCV will be working on the hedges along the Trail from the Memorial Gardens right through to Ladywell Lane.  The fence and wire is to be removed and replaced by laying the hedge.  The landowner has agreed to the work and the only cost is the contribution to the WCV and the cost of a piece of equipment.

 

 

RG

71

Literature and Technology

 

71.1

Millennium/Arle Valley Trail Leaflets: 

Stock currently at 13½k.

Awaiting cheque from insurance company for the leaflets damaged in July 2007.  Clerk to chase.

 

 

 

Clerk

71.2

Alresford Pocket Guide: 

 

71.2.1

Republication planned in 2009/10.  Propose requesting £1,000 contribution from Winchester Tourism this fiscal year. ES to check whether this is accounted for in the Winchester Tourism budget.

 

Resolution: To request £1,000 from Winchester Tourism for re-publication of the Alresford Pocket Guide.

Proposed: Cllr. Phillips          Seconded: Cllr. Gentry           ALL AGREED

 

 

ES

Clerk

71.2.2

Delivery costs have increased due to fuel prices and the thickness of the guides.  ES to ask Linda Messingham to provide Clerk with details of other providers.

 

Resolution: To obtain quotes from other sources for delivery charges.

Proposed: Cllr. Phillips          Seconded: Cllr. Gentry           ALL AGREED

 

ES

 

Clerk

71.3

V.I.P.: 

Broadband installed, VIP machine at the kiosk, awaiting final installation.  ES to investigate and update

 

 

ES

72

Reports

 

72.1

 

Eel House Restoration Project:

No report available.  RG advised that the building is structurally sound, formally handed over to Town Trustees and free of debt.  £5k still required to finish off works to the floor and re-instating the eel traps.  With the grants that are expected there is only a few hundred pounds still to be collected.  Educational visits have not commenced yet due to inside not refurbished.  Applying for a licence to be able to catch eels (and release within 24hrs).

 

 

72.2

 

Winchester Tourism:

Please see attached report. 

Discussed the John Arlott plaque planned to be erected on The Old Sun – it was felt that NATC should pick up this project to drive it through.  Needs to be brought up at the appropriate Town Partnership meeting.

 

 

 

MP/M Power

72.3

 

Chamber of Commerce:

No report available

 

 

72.4

 

Watercress Line:

LM – weather has not helped business.  2009 Timetable has been published.  The Watercress Line staff are trying to encourage their passengers to venture into Town and walk down to the river.  RG to look into the cost for information board/signage in the new Perins’ car park.  Annual visitor numbers will be available at the next meeting.

 

 

RG

72.5

Rotary Club:

No report available beyond the above information on the town sign’s flower beds.

 

 

73

Any other Business

Town Trust:

Markets – being held on the 1st Sunday of the month.  There is a mixed reaction ~ majority of the traders don’t appear to have too much of a problem but one of the public houses objects to the lack of parking.

The Town Trust is getting more and more requests for weekend markets, already had a French market and have received requests to hold an Italian market.  Agreed that Town Trust be included as an agenda item under Reports in future Tourism meetings.

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk

 

 

Date of next meeting: Wednesday 7th January 2009 at 6.30pm in the Station Buffet

 

The Chairman closed the meeting at 8:15pm

 

 

 

 

 

Chair Signature__________________________Date__________________