Destination Staffordshire Board Meeting

Transcription

1 Destination Staffordshire Board Meeting Held at the Tamworth SnowDome at 2.30 p.m., 12 October 2016 Present: Claire Furnell - King Best Western Moat House, Stoke-on-Trent Clare.Furnell-King@bwstoke.co.uk Mr Simon Papprill Canals and Rivers Trust Simon.papprill@canalrivertrust.org.uk Glenn Watson Cannock Chase District Council glennwatson@cannockchasedc.gov.uk Cllr Gordon Alcott Cannock Chase District Council gordonalcott@cannockchasedc.gov.uk Ron Lawrence Colton House ron_lawrence@btinternet.com Bob Keys Drayton Manor Theme Park bkeys@robertkeys.com/ rhkyoxall@gmail.com Cllr David Leese East Staffordshire Borough Council david.leese@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk Kimberley Evans East Staffordshire Borough Council Kimberley.evans@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk Trudi Barnard Newcastle Borough Council Representing Cllr. Rout Cllr Bob McCardle South Staffordshire District Council r.mccardle@sstaffs.gov.uk Nikki Taylor South Staffordshire District Council n.taylor@sstaffs.gov.uk Julie Arnold Staffordshire Waterways Group julie@waterwayimages.com Julian Woolford Staffordshire Wildlife Trust j.woolford@staffs-wildlife.org.uk Jonathan Bellamy Stoke City Centre Partnership jonathan.bellamy@crossrhythms.co.uk Claire Williams Stoke-on-Trent City C ouncil clairewilliams@stoke.gov.uk Caroline Mairs Stoke-on-Trent City Council Carolinemairs@stoke.gov.uk Stacey Birt Tamworth Borough Council Stacy-birt@tamworth.gov.uk Lorraine Farley Tamworth Borough Council Observer Mr Michael Walker (Acting Chair) Trentham Leisure Ltd mwalker@trentham.co.uk Anita Guest (secretariat) Staffordshire County Council anita.guest@staffordshire.gov.uk Graeme Whitehead (secretariat) Staffordshire County Council graeme.whitehead@staffordshire.gov.uk C.C: Emma Catterall Alton Towers emma.catterall@alton-towers.com Chris Lewis Lewis Partnership chrislewis@thelewispartnership.co.uk Cllr Helen Fisher Lichfield District Council Helen.fisher@lichfielddc.gov.uk Simon Evans National Forest Company sevans@nationalforest.org Sarah Montgomery National Memorial Arboretum smontgomery@thenma.org.uk Tracy Williams National Trust Tracy.williams@nationaltrust.org.uk Cllr Ameila Rout Newcastle Borough Council Amelia.rout@newcastle-staffs.gov.uk Frances Beatty Peak District National Park Authority Frances.Beatty@peakdistrict.gov.uk Cllr Mike Smith Stafford Borough Council mick@batchacre.fsnet.co.uk Cllr Mark Winnington (Chair) Staffordshire County Council mark.winnington@staffordshire.gov.uk Cllr Andrew Hart Staffordshire Moorlands District Council Andrew.hart@staffsmoorlands.gov.uk Paul Williams Staffordshire University paul.williams@staffs.ac.uk Cllr Terrence Fellows Stoke City Council terrencefellows@stoke.gov.uk Heather Sheldon Stoke-on-Trent College heather.sheldon@stokecoll.ac.uk Cllr Joy Goodall Tamworth Borough Council Joy-goodall@tamworth.gov.uk Agenda Item 1. Introductions and Apologies 1 P a g e Michael Walker agreed to chair the meeting in the absence of the Deputy Chair. Following introductions, the following apologies were received: Emma Catterall, Chris Lewis, Cllr. Fisher, Simon Evans, Sarah Montgomery, Tracy Williams, Cllr. Rout, Cllr. Smith, Cllr. Winnington, Cllr. Hart, Paul Williams, Cllr. Rout, Cllr. Follows, Heather Sheldon and Cllr. Goodall.

2 Thanks were passed to SnowDome for the use of their facilities. 2 Previous Meetings Minutes Agreed as a true record 3 Matters Arising tabled the matters arising (not on the current agenda) circulated with the papers and highlighted : 1.1. Sarah Montgomery still to be contacted with regard to her having at seat on both LEP boards The draft members toolkit was presented to the meeting. Comments were invited prior to it being distributed to each Board member Meeting reminded of date of Tourism Awards event on 15 November at Alton Towers. All/ AG All 4. External Funding Update 2 P a g e tabled the report circulated with papers. The following points were highlighted Tender for supplier to provide business support under recently successful ERDF application has now been completed and standstill period due to finish on 27 October. In the absence of any challenge, contract will be awarded with the successful supplier Both applications submitted under the Tourism Co-operation call have been submitted and were being processed by DEFRA/ RPA. 2.4 highlighted the opportunity of European funding for DMP promotional funding denied in ERDF funding under the EU Fund for Rural Development strand (EAFRD). Autumn Statement will confirm the availability of this and if so, calls will be framed to offer the LEP allocation of 3m to the sector and a small group of West Midlands' partners are speaking to Visit England and Superbreak about an application to Round 2 (option 2) of the Discover England Fund which would package and promote the partners under a Heroes of the Heart theme. To facilitate this discussion, reported that a party from Visit England/Visit Britain were coming to Staffordshire on a familiarisation visit on 26 October. The arranged tour will focus on what Staffordshire has to offer to inbound visitors. Following a general discussion, proposed circulating a short paper to illustrate the inbound opportunity for Staffordshire and how this might be realised. This to include the refreshing of contacts with film/ TV production companies. Subsequently to the papers being issued, reported that a consortium led by Stoke College had secured 2.4m funding from the European Social Fund to support SMEs to upskill employers to support business growth. Discussions have been / SP / CW

3 initiated to coordinate activity between this and the Staffordsheer Excellence programme. / HS 5. Activity Report tabled the Activity Report previously circulated with the papers and highlighted the following: 1.1. The Partnership s website provider NVG has recently merged with New Mind and the group have offered a new suite of sites (Staffordsheerescapes, a new trade site and the major Enjoystaffordshire site) to Enjoy Staffordshire, all of which will be fully responsive and future- proofed against the anticipated erosion of the current NVG model. The new websites should be ready by the end of January The Research Solution has provided the latest EIAs for 2015 by District but was unconvinced that the Alton Towers issues in 2015 were properly reflected in the Moorlands data particularly. TRS was re-examining the data and would provide an update to be presented at the next meeting. / AG / TRS 2.3. is progressing a licensing agreement of Taste of Staffordshire with NFU Mutual Insurance with a planned start date of 1 January. 6. National Forest Company MoU tabled the Memorandum of Understanding between the National Forest Company and the Leicestershire and Peak District DMPs to cover better partnership working. The document was approved by the Board. The first piece of work under this arrangement is planned to be an examination of potential joint membership and data collection partnership. 7. Marketing Videos presented the latest short videos to be used as part of the digital campaign to market Staffordshire. MW raised the question of the branding on these not appearing until the end and noted that in some formats it would be possible to skip them before the branding appeared. Question will be raised with RH partners. 8. Information Exchange / SE Drayton Manor BK reported that the Park had had a good season. The weather had presented some problems but the hotel had performed extremely well. Planning permission has been secured for 40 lodges to be built. Forthcoming events include fireworks and the Thomasland Christmas. BK also highlighted that Drayton were helping to raise the profile of Sir Robert Peel. A travelling exhibition would be touring Staffordshire next year. 3 P a g e

4 East Staffordshire Borough Council Newcastle Borough Council KE reported that East Staffs were working with National Forest to produce the 2017 campaign attraction leaflet to include a free advert for partners. TB reported that Newcastle had submitted a bid to HLF to commemorate the anniversary of Philip Astley, father of the modern circus in The local BID had celebrated its first year. Forthcoming events include the Christmas light switch-on on 26 November. Stoke City Council Final Draft on the new Stoke-on-Trent Visitor Economy Strategy now out with key stakeholders for comments. Hoping to sign off by the end of October. Stoke-on-Trent Visitor Survey currently underway with researchers out in the field until the end of October. UK City of Culture bid writers now appointed. Keith Blundell and Kirsty Connell of Blue Chip Tourism. City has a new canoe heritage trail. 20 miles in length, running from Westport Lake through to Froghall. Currently have the ADP Riot Tour in Stoke-on-Trent City Centre. It has now been announced that Stoke-on-Trent will receive the Poppies tour in 2018 Venue and dates TBC. South Staffs Council Research Solutions has done a Visitor Survey from April to September. The team are awaiting the report. 2 planning requests have been submitted for accommodation: Spread Eagle for a 38 bed lodge, LDF for 10 lodges and 5 camping pods. Approval has been given for the relocation for the World Owl Trust to Himley Hall. Tamworth BC Stoke-on-Trent City Centre Partnership Tamworth BC is working on setting up a BID. At present they are in the consultation phase but may be formed within 12 months. Local Arts had secured 68,000 from Arts funding for an exhibition: Arts in Unusual spaces. Tamworth Assembly Room will reopen in It is being renovated and an extension built. Tamworth Castle has submitted a bid to HLF to mount a Saxon exhibition. The town centre is being enhanced through improved landscaping and gateways. Plans have been approved for a 22 unit shopping centre with hotel and cinema close to the bus station. 4 P a g e

5 Staffordshire Waterways Group LEP Inward Investment Colton House Rivers and Canal Trust SWT Trentham Volunteers have worked on Norbury Junction, Churnet Valley footpath and Lichfield/Hatherton Bloom Award. There is a recognisable trend for holiday bookings to be for longer duration, around 3-4 weeks to allow visitors more time to tour the country. JA has been approached by the Press Association on behalf of London Midland railway for information to be featured at their stations. JA to circulate contact details. Upcoming events include: Midland Property Show where Inward Investment will be displaying. SSLEP are holding Cultural Tourism dinner on Wednesday 19 October. RL reported that they have completed the refurbishment of all of their rooms and are now up weighting their focus on the conferencing. The Trust is working with Stoke on a 1m capital programme to improve the waterways in and around the city. They are also working with Wayfinding to update the signage around the canal network to highlight points of interest and attractions close to the canal. The Trust is a partner of Stoke City Council for the City of Culture bid and the Brindley celebrations. The SWT are in the process of upgrading footpaths on the Roaches and refurbishing The Wolseley Centre. The Trust is launching a State of Nature Report for Staffordshire on 14 October, the first in the country. A record year for visitors. Planning permission has been secured for 26 new shops; building will commence on 17 October In the garden, they are in a major phase of planting All remaining events for 2016 have sold out. JA 10. Any other business reported that Cllr. Andrew Hart has organised a meeting with Karen Bradley to be attended by himself, the Cabinet member for SMDC and. Report to the next Board. AH/ 11 Next Meetings 17 January Venue NMA (TBC)., 13:00 16:00 (lunch from 12.15) 5 P a g e