New Alresford Town Council

Draft Minutes of the Tourism Committee Meeting

Wednesday 22nd April 2009 at 6:30pm in the Station Buffet (relocated to Town Offices)

 

Present: Cllr. Phillips, Cllr Evans,  Cllr Cattle, Cllr Power, Ellen Simpson (WCC Tourism), Barbara Gray

Press/Member of Public: None

 

83

Apologies

Cllr Gentry, Cllr Read

 

 

84

Declarations of interest

Cllr Power – John Arlott Plaque

 

 

85

Minutes of the meeting 7th January 2009

 

 To be ratified at next meeting

 

Chair advised Louise McKay of Watercress Line has left and gave note of thanks for her contribution. NATC to send letter of thanks.

E Simpson advised Tim Beere has taken over as Marketing Manager, Mid Hants Railway . Clerk to contact.

Chair thanked Sarah Bettridge as Tourism Clerk to date and welcomed Barbara Grey to the position.

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk

Clerk

86

Public Questions

None.

 

 

87

Budget And Expenditure to 31st March 2009

 

87.1

Spend to Date:

Chair gave a brief explanation of all Income and Expenditure to end of last fiscal.  Overall tourism came in at £7800; £1300 under revised budget.

Hanging Baskets - Income would have been £400 higher. One donation not received. 

Sundries - Nothing under this category last year

Telephone - was higher than budgeted due to having to pay line rental to BT as well as Broadband. Next year likely to be £330 altogether but have the sundries to absorb this.

VIP - £500 expenditure as agreed

Millennium Trail - Donation request to George Hollingbery held over to 2009/10 resulting in higher overall expenditure than budgeted for.

Publications Impact Distribution only invoiced once in 2008/09 year

Watercress FestivalCllr Cattle advised we received half income from Stratton Bates Parking.  Expenditure as predicted

Leaflets - No income/expenditure during 2008/09; WCC producing the cricket leaflet took up the £1000 NATC normally receives.

 

 

 

 

88

Projects

 

88.1

Watercress Festival:

 

Cllr Cattle reported on meeting held 20th April; all going well.  Sold out stalls in West St , there will be some stalls in East Street and about 45 Hampshire Farmers Market stalls in Broad St.

Chair – Sterling job done by JC and the organising team with its broader community involvement.  Expect coverage on Sunday 17th May by BBC South, Radio Solent

Cllr Cattle tabled some Watercress Souvenir Programmes advising more to follow.  Mail shot letter and programme to residents being circulated in the streets affected.

 

 

 

88.2

Hanging Baskets/Bowser: 

79 Baskets requested to date. Cllr Evans advised has received about 10 others and will pass to NATC.

Chair asked for more sponsors for Up  the Poles -  £60 to sponsor. Baskets will be hung for the Watercress Festival.

Bowser – it remains difficult to source spares for the current machine which will be ready for the upcoming season. Cllr Cattle advised a replacement could cost £3-4,000 and it would be difficult if a new bowser had to be mounted on the back of a vehicle.

 

SE

 

 

88.3

Millennium/Arle Valley Trail Maintenance: 

 

 

Email sent but no response from HCC with regards to the next scagg cut along the Trail.  Clerk to continue to chase

 

Clerk

 

Chair advised North side of hedge laying along the Trail Memorial Gardens to Ladywell Lane done and further work to take place next Wednesday.

 

 

 

Funding from HCC is £565.50 for works due to be carried out in July on Arle Valley Trail going west from the Eel House. D Goodman seeking donations from Landowners. Committee awaiting final figures to determine NATC Tourism’s contribution. Chair advised New Information Board will be erected with information on eel trapping etc.

 

 

 

DG/MP

88.4

Plaques

 

 

John Arlott  Plaque and Cricket Leaflet launch– Cllr Power updated on progress towards the planned launch on 21st June but Listed Building Consent is still awaited . Proposed programme 12.15pm Unveiling, 1pm VIP reception in ARC, 1.30pm-3.30 pm Cricket match followed by Cricket tea. Town Partnership  have received £320 donations.  Cllr Power sought a  £160 contribution from NATC Tourism

Resolution: To donate £160 to Town Partnership towards the launch of the Cricket Leaflet, John Arlott Plaque and the cricket match at the ARC.

Proposed: Cllr Phillips Seconded Cllr Evans – Agreed

To go to NATC Town Council for ratification.

ES tabled Cricket Leaflet for information only at this stage; not to be circulated. Website currently being built by WCC Tourism

The committee suggested Cllr Power advises Nigel Patterson that inviting Alresford residents as spectators to the cricket match was felt to be an excellent idea. Cllr Power advised the event will be advertised in What’s On.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clerk

 

 

 

MP

90

Literature and Technology

 

90.1

Millennium/Arle Valley Trail Leaflets: 

Stock held at Town Offices currently at 14,250.

 

 

90.2

Alresford Pocket Guide: 

 

 

Chamber confirm sufficient stock until Autumn 09. AGM next week. Cllr Evans to advise details of reprint.  WCC confirm have run out of leaflet.

 

SE

 

90.3

V.I.P.: 

Installed, up and running and user friendly

 

 

91

Reports

 

91.1

 

Town Trust:

Met with WCC Tree Officer who was in agreement with remaining works along The Avenue re epicormic growth

Town Trustees have planning agreement for service road closure during the Thursday Market

 

91.2

 

Winchester Tourism:

Report tabled and attached.  In particular Winchester Tourism is improving their website; follow: http://www.newmind.co.uk/demo/winchester/1.htm. It was agreed that the Chamber consider modernising the Alresford site.

Also of interest was the opportunity to acquire an Inspire Mark related to the Cultural Olympiad which would be very useful for e.g. The Watercress Festival/Watercress Alliance. This needs to be considered in the coming year.

 

 

91.3

 

Chamber of Commerce:

Cllr Evans talked through a proposed leaflet from ‘Treasure Trails’ targeted at families visiting Alresford . Similar schemes already run in Alton and New Forest

Cost to purchase at £5 was felt to be too high.  Passed to ES to follow up and report back to Chamber.

 

 

ES

91.4

 

Watercress Line:

No report received

 

 

91.5

Rotary Club:

No report received

 

 

 

Date of next meeting: Wednesday 22nd July 2009 at 6.30pm in the Station Buffet

 

The Chairman closed the meeting at 7.50pm

 

 

 

 

Chair Signature__________________________    Date__________________