Issue - meetings

Report of the Leader

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The review of projects funded from the 2011 round at appendix 2 be noted.
2. The proposal to use £25,000 from the 2011 Promoting Cheltenham Fund to support the creation of a new tourism website as laid down in appendix 3 be approved and any remaining funds be allocated to the 2012-2013 scheme.
3. The guidelines and process for allocating the 2012 Promoting Cheltenham Funds as laid down in appendix 4 be approved.

The Leader of the Council introduced the report which had been circulated with the agenda and explained that the Promoting Cheltenham fund had been introduced in 2011 to support events, projects and initiatives that would stimulate economic and business growth in Cheltenham. Feedback received to date had been positive.

The Leader explained that the funding was to have been allocated in two tranches. However, an overwhelming response had been received with £150k out of £180k being allocated in the first phase. A bid has been developed to use the remaining funds of £28 000 to support the creation of a new tourism website for the town.

The Cabinet Member Sport and Culture added that there were several issues with the current tourism website including poor navigation and inability to provide quick and reliable updates. In addition there was a need to respond to a changing web environment in terms of compatibility with handheld devices and responding to social networking sites. A new website would also provide key organisations in the town with an access portal. The Cabinet Member referred to questions raised by the Chamber of Commerce, the assessment panel and other partners, the responses to which were laid down in an updated paragraph 3.7 circulated at the meeting.

The Leader proposed an amendment to the end of recommendation 2 of the report to include that “any remaining funds be allocated to the 2012-2013 scheme”. This was supported by members. He also referred to an addition to the criteria of the scheme to provide more flexibility to applicants with the following paragraph to appendix 4 of the report: “We would expect the projects to take place in Cheltenham, though we would consider projects that are delivered outside Cheltenham where there are direct benefits for the borough.”

Members expressed their support for an updated tourism website which would generate business for the town. Encompassing new technology was welcomed in terms of mobile capability, not just for the tourists of Cheltenham but for those living in the town.

The Cabinet Member Sustainability made particular reference to Section 5.4 and encouraged bids in respect of the design, production and marketing of a Cheltenham bag for life which had generated great interest among elected members.

The Leader of the Council referred to the timescales outlined for the new scheme in Appendix 4 of the report and encouraged people to come forward with bids.

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The review of projects funded from the 2011 round at appendix 2 be noted.
2. The proposal to use £25,000 from the 2011 Promoting Cheltenham Fund to support the creation of a new tourism website as laid down in appendix 3 be approved and any remaining funds be allocated to the 2012-2013 scheme.
3. The guidelines and process for allocating the 2012 Promoting Cheltenham Funds as laid down in appendix 4 be approved.