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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 2ND APRIL 2008
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 2ND APRIL 2008 AT 7.00 P.M. AT THE TOWN HALL, 9 DEVON SQUARE, NEWTON ABBOT
PRESENT Councillors Miss J Fry (Chairman) Presiding
H. L. J. Cole (Vice-Chairman)
Mrs C Bunday
D. Corney-Walker
C. Davieson
Mrs A. Fry
M. Hocking
D. Howe
K. Lewis
C. Parker
K. Purchase
Mrs D. Watts
Co-opted Members:
Mike Ryan – Chairman of Newton Abbot Carnival Committee
By Invitation:
Michelle Taylor – Tourism & Marketing Officer, Teignbridge District Council
486. APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Mrs G. Leeper, Mrs S. Maddicott, A. Vizor, Martin Arliss (Platform 4), Julie Cleave (Newton Abbot Town Band), Stuart Gray and Stella Watson (Newton Abbot & District Chamber of Trade).
487. MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of the Activities Committee held on 9th January 2008 were received and signed as a correct record.
488. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Nil.
489. TOURISM IN TEIGNBRIDGE
The Chairman welcomed Michelle Taylor, the Tourism and Marketing Officer for Teignbridge District Council and invited Michelle to begin her presentation.
Michelle informed members that she had been employed by Teignbridge District Council for seven years and that she was responsible for managing the three Tourist Information Centres (TIC’s) funded by the District Council – (Newton Abbot, Teignmouth and Dawlish) and listed the areas that she had planned to cover in her presentation:
An Update of the activities undertaken in the three Information Centres under her management within the district – Newton Abbot, Teignmouth and Dawlish.
Tourism and marketing strategies utilised by the Information Centres.
A breakdown of financial support provided by Newton Abbot Town Council to the Newton Abbot Information Centre.
It was explained that the main objective of Teignbridge and South Hams District Councils (who have entered into a three year partnership) was to,
“Promote, attract and retain businesses, industry and tourism within the district”.
The Charter Mark Accreditation for customer service was achieved in 2005, together with the Green Tourism Business Scheme Award and the Bronze award was achieved. It was noted that it was hoped to achieve silver in the next assessment.
The visitor profile for the Newton Abbot TIC was explained and Members were fascinated to note that during the winter months 96% of visitors were local residents and during the summer months this was split 60% / 40% between visitors and locals respectively.
Visitor numbers to the Newton Abbot TIC had risen by 13% in last 12 months to 51,693.
Some of the more regular enquiries made by members of the public to the TIC included:
Bus timetable information
Issuing of bus passes
Local events
Visitor attractions
Theatre ticket bookings
Purchase of garden bags
Purchase of kitchen caddy bags
Michelle explained the staffing profile of the TIC’s across the district and confirmed that continuity was retained throughout, as each centre had the same layout as the other.
There had been considerable investment in the Newton Abbot Tourist Information Centre within the last 7 years such as air conditioning, a new reception desk, an epos stock control system implemented, and a larger window display.
More investment was planned for 2008 in the form of some bespoke merchandise, enhanced window displays and a possible one-stop shop to enable members of the public to access some council services in the town centre, rather than at Forde House.
Members were informed that the Newton Abbot TIC was open all year round and its staffing costs accounted for 41% of the total TIC running costs.
The history of the Newton Abbot TIC was mentioned in brief and Members acknowledged that prior to 1989 the TIC was fully funded by Newton Abbot Town Council and ran by volunteers. Subsequent to this Newton Abbot Town Council and Teignbridge District Council entered into a 25 lease agreement, (until 2014) at its current premises in Courtenay Street.
Members were interested to note the running costs of the Newton Abbot TIC in 2007:
Staffing costs - £74,200
Rental/rates - £20,160
Audit - £1,010
Purchases / resales - £52,220
Total Gross Running costs = £147,590
Less
Resales (merchandise/commission on theatre tickets/maps) - £59,350
NATC contribution - £9600
Total income - £68,950
Total Net Running Costs = £78,750 of Newton Abbot TIC
The total spend throughout the Teignbridge area had risen from £197,319,000 to £220,426,000 between 2001 and 2005, and tourism within the district accounted for 10% of the total employment within the area.
Marketing initiatives by the TIC’s (in conjunction with TDC and South Hams DC) included:
An annual destination guide, which included editorials of all the towns in Teignbridge, together with details of accommodation and visitor attractions.
100,000 of these have been printed this year alone, of which 36,000 had already been distributed (20,000 via direct request from the public and 16,000 forwarded to other TIC’s across England).
Town Maps – Local businesses, tourist attractions, eateries etc have had the opportunity to advertise on the map for a twelve month period for the cost of £75.00 per advert.
www.visitsouthdevon.co.uk website, which was launched in January 2008 and has proved to be very popular.
Michelle concluded by informing members that Teignbridge and South Hams District Councils were working together to form an ‘Area Tourism Partnership Bid’ to Devon Renaissance (which was still in its infancy) for a sum of up to £50,000 in order to demonstrate their continued support to deliver sustainable tourism.
Members were invited to ask questions and did so on the following subjects:
Advertising of the St Leonard’s Tower opening
South Devon Attraction brochure
Promotion of events on the www.visitsouthdevon.co.uk website
The possibility of the re-introduction of Theatre Royal tickets
Further information on the ‘One Stop-Shop’ concept
The Chairman thanked Michelle on behalf of the members for her fascinating presentation, whereupon she left the meeting.
490. INTERESTS
Nil.
491. EVENTS UPDATE
The Events Co-ordinator reported verbally on the progress to date of the imminent events for 2008:
The Events Co-ordinator informed members that all the administration relating to the events for 2008 were at a point that an easy transition period would be facilitated for the new Events Co-ordinator.
Britain in Bloom – Was still in its very early stages, but Councillor Howe was able to assist the new EC when in post
Newton in Bloom – The entry forms had been completed and were ready to be despatched when required
Town Criers Competition – Everything was organised and an Aide Memoir had been prepared for the new EC
Cheese & Onion Fayre – The EC confirmed that all individuals to be involved in the Cheese & Onion Fayre were aware of their duties and that the stall holders from the farmers market were happy to attend on 3rd September.
In addition to the above it was also confirmed that the Union Inn was prepared to host the mini-ale festival for NATC and were generously providing an Olde Tower gift voucher for the ‘Best Dressed Stall’.
The new delicatessen counter in the Pannier Market was also prepared to provide a selection of cheeses to be barrowed during the parade.
Carnival 2008 – Work in progress. The Events
Co-ordinator confirmed that all the documentation relating to the Carnival in 2007 had been retained in order to assist the new EC with their administrative duties.
The Chairman thanked the Events Co-ordinator for her report and wished to convey thanks on behalf of all the members of the Activities Committee for all of Yvonne’s hard work over the past three years, a great deal of it being above and beyond the call of duty and wished her success in her new post.
492. CARNIVAL 2008
The Chairman invited Mike Ryan, Chairman of the Carnival Committee, to report on the progress to date for the Carnival for 2008 and on the meetings of the Carnival Committee held on 14th January and 18th February 2008 (previously circulated).
The Chairman of the Carnival Committee voiced concerns regarding the break in administrative support in between the current Events Co-ordinator leaving post and the new Events Co-ordinating starting in post.
The current Events Co-ordinator confirmed that a gap of around 6-8 weeks would be experienced, but reassured the Chairman of the Carnival Committee that Newton Abbot Town Council remained fully supportive of the Carnival Committee and explained that the new Events Co-ordinator would be in a similar position to herself in 2007. In addition it was re-iterated that all the Carnival documentation utilised in 2007 had been retained and would guide the new Events Co-ordinator.
After much debate it was
RESOLVED that Newton Abbot Town Council re-affirmed its continued administrative and financial support to the Newton Abbot Carnival Committee, subject to a 12 monthly review.
493. INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
The Committee noted the report showing the Income & Expenditure 1st April 2007 – 26th March 2008. There was a net expenditure to date of £4657.53
494. LATE CORRESPONDENCE
Nil.
495. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The Chairman thanked members for their continued support and reminded members that the next meeting would be under the revised committee structure – the Amenities Committee and was to be held on Wednesday 25th June 2008.