Agenda item

Report of the Cultural Services Team Manager

The Cultural Services Team Manager presented the report to Members.

He provided Members with an update on each event.

Picnic and Proms in the Park

It was confirmed that the Picnic in the Park event had been very well supported with an estimated 7,000 attendees. The feedback that had been received had been very positive with the High Sheriff of Leicestershire being particularly complimentary. As well as several live music acts, the First World War themed area had proved to be particularly popular.

It was stated that the Proms in the Park event had also been a success in its first year. It was estimated that 1,700 people attended and that the mix of entertainment had been well received.

The Cultural Services Team Manager thanked the Cultural Services Team for all their hard work in planning and delivering the events. He also thanked Members for their attendance and support.

Councillor M B Wyatt thanked Officers for the work that had been put in to both the events. He stated that the feedback that he had received was particularly appreciative of the Proms in the Park event as it catered for a different age group. He stated that it was good to see that this event was now established given the uncertainty that had recently surrounded its future.

Councillor M Specht offered his congratulations to Officers for running the event. He stated that he thought the number attending the Proms in the Park event would considerably increase if it was held again next year as word of mouth would spread and raise numbers accordingly.

Councillor J Cotterill stated that he had been particularly impressed with the First World War themed area. He went on to say that the event had been beautifully organised.

Councillor R Adams stated that he had particularly enjoyed the circus tent. He stated that he was disappointed with the lack of public transport on Sundays from the Greenhill area of the town and suggested that this might have meant some people could not have attended. He suggested that this may be an area that could be looked at in future years.

Councillor J Legrys stated that this year’s event was one of the strongest yet and that everyone involved should be thanked.

Councillor N Clarke reiterated that the event was brilliant and suggested that it offered fantastic value for money given the relatively small budget involved.

Councillor J Geary stated that he was very impressed with the quality of the Ockbrook Big Band.

Coalville Town Team Summerfest

It was confirmed that this event had been successfully held on the same weekend as the Proms and Picnic in the Park events. Activities had included dancing, singing, musical theatre, stalls and food demonstrations.

Councillor M B Wyatt stated that the area used for the Summerfest had been restricted to the precinct and that he had received feedback from other business owners who had been disappointed by this.

Councillor J Legrys pointed out that the event had been organised by an independent body and that it was therefore not within the Working Party’s control. He stated that the Town Team should be made aware of such feedback instead.

Coalville by the Sea

It was confirmed that, following the success of last year’s event, a similar one was to be held again this August which would include games, arts and crafts, puppet shows, music and sandpits.

Christmas Lights Switch On Event

It was confirmed that it was again intended to combine this event with the Coalville Town Team’s Food and Drink Event on 21 November. It was stated that it had been proposed to make the annual free weekend car parking run for five weekends from this date until 19 December.

Coalville Christmas Decorations

It was confirmed that a tender process had now been completed and that a five year contract had been awarded to a new supplier but within the existing budget.

Councillor P Purver stated that several of the brackets used to hold the lights were now not fit for purpose. She suggested that the Working Party should look at what could be done to rectify this.

Councillor M B Wyatt stated that the cost of providing the electricity for the lights fell to the trader and that this discouraged some from taking part. He suggested that the Working Party consider contributing to these costs to encourage more traders to take part.

Councillor J Legrys stated that parished areas, such as Ashby Town Council, used Section 106 money to fund their Christmas Lights and that this option was not available to the Working Party as they did not receive these funds.

Councillor M Specht stated that it was important for the Working Party to spend money in this area so as to encourage people to come to shop in Coalville rather than other local towns.

The consensus of Members was to ask Officers to provide costings for the replacement of the brackets, the trees and the lights and to then discuss further at the meeting of the sub group.

St George’s Day Flags

Councillor N Clarke stated that, unlike in previous years, no flags were erected to commemorate St George’s Day this year. He suggested that this be reconsidered for next year.

Councillor M B Wyatt stated that in previous years the flags had been in place for too long and had deteriorated in quality as a result. He suggested that a one day event should be held to celebrate St George’s Day instead.

Members agreed to form a sub group consisting of all Members of the Working Party in order to discuss this further.

RESOLVED THAT:

the Working Party notes the progress update on 2015/16 events.