Agenda item

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure seeking review of the City Events Programme for 2018 and to consider the Programme for 2019.

139.1              Councillor Noakes, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, presented the report and highlighted key aspects. She outlined the establishment of a strategic events programme and confirmed that the Council would continue to fund directly the History Festival.

139.2              Councillor Noakes informed Members that the annual Carnival would be taking place on 13^th July 2019 which was before the school term finished and that numerous schools would be involved. Additionally, to mark the 50^th anniversary of the moon landing, there would be a Festival of the Moon which would include a temporary ‘museum of the moon’.

139.3              Councillor Lewis noted that, in the report, provision for key Civic events was referred to but queried whether holders of Civic office required more day-to-day support. Councillor Noakes agreed that the report covered specific events and the Corporate Director advised that administrative report was provided throughout the year.

139.4              Councillor Hilton shared his view that the events commemorating the 1100^th anniversary of the death of Æthelflæd had been impressive, that St. Oswald’s Priory had been a good space for the events and could be used for further events. He also suggested that more use could be made of Hillfield Gardens. Councillor Hilton queried whether anything was planned for the Docks when the Tall Ships Festival was not happening.

139.4              The Chief Executive of Marketing Gloucester (MGL) stated his belief that the Æthelflæd events had been delivered well and that considerable work had gone into them. He advised that, with the Business Improvement District (BID), an event had been planned at St. Oswald’s Priory but this would have conflicted with other events at Llanthony Priory. Joint events were being considered for the future.

139.5              With regard to the Tall Ships Festival, the Chief Executive stressed the need to achieve a good financial return. He advised that, in 2019, the Royal Navy would attend and that residents would receive a considerable discount upon presentation of a GL1 card. He informed Councillor Hilton that he would take his suggestion of greater use of Hillfield Gardens back to MGL.

139.6              In response to a further query from Councillor Hilton regarding a possible monument to Æthelflæd, the Chief Executive outlined that numerous options were being explored.

139.7              Councillor Haigh stated that it would be useful to be furnished with a comprehensive suite of events. It was agreed that this would be circulated.

139.8              Councillor Haigh queried why an outside organisation was engaged to organise King’s Jam and whether there was confidence in the organisation. She further queried how it would raise the additional £50k cited in the report.

139.9              Councillor Noakes advised that, following the review of the previous year, King’s Jam was a target event and that the Music Works was a very successful organisation. The Corporate Director outlined the fact that part of the cultural strategy was growing other organisations in the City, that Music Works sought to operate in the City and was well regarded by numerous funding bodies.

139.10            Councillor Pullen noted that para 6.3 showed the Council’s contribution to events but not the total cost. He stated that it would be useful to know this and it was agreed that this would be included in the final report.

139.11            Councillor Pullen stated that he did not see aims and targets for the events which could assist in evaluation. The Chief Executive of MGL advised that some metrics were available such as footfall and spend but that other measures were less tangible.  

139.12            Councillor Dee concurred with the idea that a narrow boat festival could be held in years when the Tall Ships Festival was not taking place and that similar events had been successful elsewhere. He also suggested that there was a market for a high quality hotel in the City.

139.13            The Chief Executive of MGL advised that he had spoken with the Canal and Waterways Trust previously and there would be difficulties in holding a narrow boat event due to the location of the Docks but he would examine the case again. With regard to a hotel, the Chief Executive advised that, by 2025 it was predicted that there would be a shortage of hotel rooms and that if this was not remedied, the number of visitors staying over in the City would flatten out.

 139.14           Councillor Morgan queried where the proposed further £10k income would be generated from. Councillor Noakes advised that more stalls and fireworks during key events such as the Tall Ships Festival could see further income generation.

139.15            RESOLVED that:- (1) The total costs of events included in the report be included in the report to Cabinet; (2) A full suite of events be circulated and; (3) The Overview and Scrutiny Committee NOTE the report.