New Alresford Town Council

Draft Minutes of the Tourism Committee Meeting

Wednesday 22^nd July 2009

at 6:30pm in the Station Buffet

Present: Cllrs. Phillips, Evans, Cattle, Gentry, B Jeffs, Ellen Simpson (WCC Tourism), Tim Beere (Watercress Line)

Press: 0

Public: Mr R Atkins and on behalf of the Town Trust

Minutes by: Mrs B Gray

92	Apologies None
93	Declarations of interest None
94	Nominations for Chair:- Resolution: To elect Cllr. Phillips as Chair Proposed Cllr. Jeffs Seconded E Simpson (AGREED) Cllr. Phillips declared Chair for 2009/10 Nomination for Vice Chair: Resolution: To elect Cllr Jeffs as Vice Chair Proposed: Cllr Phillips Seconded: Cllr Evans (AGREED) Cllr Jeffs declared Vice Chair 2009/10
95	Minutes of the meeting 7^th January 2009 Proposed: Cllr Phillips Seconded: Cllr Gentry Agreed Minutes of the meeting 22^nd April 2009 Proposed: Cllr Phillips Seconded: Cllr Cattle Agreed
96	Cllr Phillips welcomed Tim Beere to meeting and gave thanks for use of premises. He was introduced to all present.
97	Public Questions Q (RA) What research had been done for Cricket Leaflet? A (ES) WCC Heritage Officer provided information Q ( BJ) As a local leaflet it was felt that some other local famous cricketers names were missing A (ES) Alresford Town Partnership wrote about connection picked up by WCC. Have a linked website will be adding MCC Library	ES
98	Budget And Expenditure to 30^th June 2009 Cllr Phillips outlined expenditure to date which was in line with the overall budget.
99 99.1 99.2 99.3 99.3.1 99.3.2 99.4 99.4.1	Projects Watercress Festival The committee were advised of the two resolutions passed by NATC at meeting 9^th July 09. 1 To support a grant for £2,500 from the Watercress Festival for 2010, subject to the 2010/2011 precept being accepted. 2 To agree that the 2010 Watercress Festival charge for use of Festival day parking at Stratton Bates is waived subject to the condition that the Festival pays for any necessary repairs to the ground up to the value of £500 Date for the festival next year is Sunday 16^th May 2010. Cllr Gentry advised 2009 festival profit of £4,500, of which £2,500 paid off the loss of 2008 festival. Funds of £1,900 in bank await grant money due in March 2010. Cllr Cattle advised next meeting of the Watercress Alliance is 3^rd week in August at which their sponsorship will be decided. In 2010 the festival will be using AA signage which is more effective against vandalism. HCC Food Market excellent. Road closure well organised. All on track for 2010. Cllr Phillips advised Tim Beere that he is a key member of the Watercress Festival Committee and needs to know the date of the next meeting. In 2010 Wendy Akers will be managing the publicity both nationally and locally. Cllr Evans shared an idea that is being evaluated to create a race with various forms of transport taking bunches of watercress from Alresford watercress beds to London Waterloo. To race against a steam train would cost £15,000 to charter a train. A potentially excellent promotion for Alresford and Watercress Festival as the event would need to be televised to cover some of the costs. TB advised that if we get a production company on board they would cover the charter costs as part of the overall costing. Will keep all updated. ES will pass details of a good contact to SE. Cllr Phillips asked RG if possible to have a Watercress Poster in the Community Centre Tourism Board with photos of this year and advertising next years festival Cllr Gentry advised it has been suggested to Clive Burgess that posters are printed now. CB investigating over summer. Hanging Baskets/Bowser Cllr Gentry advised that 105 baskets have gone up this year and all the usual lampposts have “up the poles”. Water Bowser has broken down, baskets watered last Saturday week, wet weather has helped. Flyer went out last Wednesday asking for assistance with watering – good response. G Cann ordered replacement part from Italy; 2 week lead time. Cost £250 plus labour. Reduction in watering costs for this period may possibly pay for repair. Cllr Phillips asked about 2009 sponsorship. JC to speak with Alresford Salads who have donated £1,000 in previous years. Other invoices posted. Millennium/Arle Valley Trail Maintenance: BG reported that HCC did a Scagg cut in May and a second cut is not anticipated this year. MP proposed that we cut back overhanging branches and nettles in September/October. Quote required from P Bridges ready to take to next NATC meeting in September. WCV Footpath work at Eel House Work being done Wednesday 29^th July. WCV Plan to 1) Erect a second information board adjacent to the gate of the Eel House. 2) Lift the edge board along the leet and a cross drain to reduce erosion. 3) Resurface the FP to the north of The Lodge/Keepers Cottage. MP acknowledged the good work of the WCV. John Arlott Plaque and Cricket Leaflet Ellen Simpson advised 4476 hits to the web site and tweets on twitter received. PR company have been employed to update site four times a day. Launch went very well with thanks to Cllr Power and leaflets are flying off shelves. Comments received that Plaque is small for amount of narrative.	MP ES/SE JC BG/MP
100	Literature and Technology
100.1 100.2	Millennium/Arle Valley Trail Leaflets: Stock held at Town Offices currently at 6,750 enough for the first half of 2010. Cllr Phillips asked ES whether £1,000 would be available in 2010 to reprint the leaflet. ES said Winchester Tourism would want to fund the reprint if funds allowed and, to keep the leaflet looking up-to date, suggested modernising the fonts. Comments were made on retaining a balance of history and modernity and the distinctive cover. Alresford Pocket Guide Cllr Evans advised 21,250 in stock. (MP subsequently checked that 125,000 were printed in August 2007 so 60,000 are being distributed each year of which Take One distribute 45,000 a year). It was agreed a reprint is needed by Spring 2010. Debate on whether the opportunity is taken to move the design/typography on will be left to SE/ES/Chamber/Craddocks to work through.	ES SE/ES Chamber Craddock
101	Reports
101.1 101.2 101.3 101.4	Town Trust: R Atkins as Co-Chair of NATT outlined the history of the Eel House and explained the various activities having tourist implications and educational value. The web site has four pages. Eel House to be opened 8 times a year, and 1000 visitors are expected in 2009. RA explained that visitors want something to read in the Eel House and take away with them. He requested that NATC/WCC fund the production of a leaflet to support visitors to the Eel House. Cllr Phillips believed more details on the Eel House and a link to the web site should be included in the Pocket Guide and the Millenium/Arle Valley Trail leaflet when they are reprinted in the next 6 to 12 months. However, the committee did not feel a printed leaflet was cost effective if the print run was only a few thousand copies. MP suggested using desktop publishing to produce an information sheet. ES advised it is cheaper to print privately than use the WCC print room. MP asked for a proposal to be made to the Tourism Committee to consider. RA said he would do so with WCC. Cllr Gentry advised substantial amount of work done on The Avenue crown lifting the trees clearing the ivy. Winchester Tourism: Ellen Simpson tabled and read through her report. Electronic copy to follow (Hard copy provided) Chamber of Commerce: Nothing to report further to item 99.1 and 100.2 Watercress Line: Tim Beere reported visitor numbers up 17%; 8% overall as they run into holiday season
101.5	Rotary Club: No report received
102	Cllr Jeffs advised WCC have Leader Funding grant available could relate to a project for the town – any ideas? Footpath around lake, footpath north of lake to Bighton? ES said King Alfred buses used to boost rural economy – information from kbrown@winchester.gov.uk	Clerk
	Date of next meeting: Wednesday 4^th November 2009 at 6.30pm in the Station Buffet The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.20pm Chair Signature__________________________ Date__________________