Destination Staffordshire Board Meeting
Held at the National Memorial Arboretum at 1.30 p.m., 17 January 2017
Present:
Emma Catterall
Mr Simon Papprill
Glenn Watson
Cllr. Gordon Alcott
Ron Lawrence
Bob Keys
Cllr. David Leese
Chris Lewis
Cllr. Helen Fisher
Simon Evans
Sarah Montgomery (Chair)
Trudi Barnard
Frances Beatty
Nikki Taylor
Anita Guest (secretariat)
Graeme Whitehead (secretariat)
Cllr. Mark Winnington (Vice Chair)
Paul Williams
Julie Arnold
Jonathan Bellamy
Cllr. Terrence Fellows
Claire Williams
Andrew Greenhough
Stacey Birt
Zoe Wallis (Guest)
Mark Modena (Guest)
Alton Towers
Canals and Rivers Trust
Cannock Chase District Council
Cannock Chase District Council
Colton House
Drayton Manor Theme Park
East Staffordshire Borough Council
Lewis Partnership
Lichfield District Council
National Forest Company
National Memorial Arboretum
Newcastle Borough Council
Peak District National Park Authority
South Staffordshire District Council
Staffordshire County Council
Staffordshire County Council
Staffordshire County Council
Staffordshire University
Staffordshire Waterways Group
Stoke City Centre Partnership
Stoke City Council
Stoke-on-Trent City C ouncil
Stoke-on-Trent College
Tamworth Borough Council
Winning Moves
Winning Moves
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Representing Cllr. Rout
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Best Western Moat House, Stoke-onTrent Trust
National
Newcastle Borough Council
South Staffordshire District Council
Stafford Borough Council
Staffordshire Moorlands District Council
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Tamworth Borough Council
Trentham Leisure Ltd
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C.C:
Claire Furnell - King
Tracy Williams
Cllr. Ameila Rout
Cllr. Bob McCardle
Cllr. Mike Smith
Cllr. Andrew Hart
Julian Woolford
Caroline Mairs
Cllr. Joy Goodall
Mr Michael Walker
Agenda Item
1.
Introductions and Apologies
Following introductions, the following apologies were received: Claire Furnell-King,
Tracy Williams, Cllr. Amelia Rout, Cllr. Bob McCardle, Cllr. Mike Smith, Cllr. Andrew
Hart, Julian Woolford, Cllr. Joy Goodall, and Michael Walker.
Thanks were passed to the NMA for the use of their facilities and excellent lunch.
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Due Date
Agenda Item
2
Responsibility
Previous Meetings Minutes
Agreed as a true record of the meeting.
3
Matters Arising
1.1. 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.
1.7. GW to chase copy letter to the Tourism Minister from Secretary of State for
Culture, Media and Sport following recent meeting.
2.1. Meeting with Katie Trout of the GBSLEP has still to take place but SM is in
contact.
2.2. Review of the couples’ packages was still on-going and will be discussed at the
next marketing meeting on the 26 January 2017.
2.3 Cllr Winnington agreed to chase the concept of linked membership and
collaborative working with the Staffordshire Chamber.
2.4. Discussions and associated action points round DMP’s impact on
accommodation issues in Staffordshire will be renewed, initially between GW and
CW and a plan of action formulated.
4.
JA
GW
SM
RK
MW
GW/ CW
Business Support Programme
Winning Moves presented the plans for the contracted programme. Presentation to
be sent out with the minutes. The launch event will take place on the 2nd March
2017 at Uttoxeter Racecourse at 12.00 midday and at 17.30. Speakers will be Les
Jones and Grant Leboff.
The Board approved the measures for business support and noted that this
programme could also dovetail into the ESF programme which provides SMEs with
WM/ GW
training needs analyses and training support.
FB highlighted the Rural Hub networking event to be held on the 26 January 2017
launching the available funding streams. WM will be attending.
5.
Draft Budget 2017/8
GW presented the draft budget for 2017-18 with part of the digital marketing spend
allocated to the promotion of packages, possibly through the use of the Sky AdSmart
service.
GW requested that partners raise P O’s where applicable to allow invoicing by the
secretariat of contributions for the forthcoming financial year.
It was agreed that RH Partners would present the full marketing plan for 2017/18 at
the next meeting in April.
After a discussion it was decided that the Staffordshire Enjoy Arts campaign is not
cost effective, having attracted too few participants. The funding could be used for
arts but perhaps in a different way – suggestions included using to support Stoke’s
bid for City of Culture. Pending a decision, the saving will be held in a contingency
line within the budget.
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The Board agreed the proposed budget.
6.
Activity Report
GW presented the activity report and highlighted the following:
Market research. ERDF contract for 2017- 2019 allows for funding of economic
impact assessments for 2017, 2018 and 2019, as well perceptions and visitor
experience surveys in both 2016 and 2019. All currently being tendered.
• Taste of Staffordshire. License agreement with NFU Mutual now signed and
preparations for re- launch underway.
• Tourism Awards. Successful event at Alton Towers. Launch for 2017 scheduled
for May.
• Funding:
• Stoke Cultural Tourism Bid had been approved. £300k to support arts
development as this relates to the visitor economy.
• 2 recent DEFRA funding calls released for capital programmes. Expected
Tourism cooperation call delayed.
• No release of Discover England Fund Round 2.2.
•
7.
Information Exchange
Drayton Manor
RK reported that Drayton Manor were expanding Thomasland
for 2017 and increasing the capacity of the hotel. Planning
approval had been received for lodges in the grounds but
building will not happen this year.
Stoke City and
Partnership
The City of Cultural bid is being worked up.
An operator has been agreed for the Smithfield site and
another 4* hotel is earmarked for the old bus station site
alongside retail and Imax cinema developments.
South Staffs District Planning has been agreed for a 38 bedroom Hotel owned by
Council
Marstons.
Tamworth B Council Consultation regarding the BID is taking place in preparation for
a vote by October. Next has a new flagship shop at Ventura
Retail park.
Cannock Chase DC
The 2017 visitor leaflet is being updated along with the
website.
Cannock is hosting a tourism business networking event on 3
February in conjunction with Winning Moves.
The council is organising Get Fit across Cannock Chase which
includes 5k or 10k run.
Peak Park
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The Heritage Lottery bid for SW Peak, similar to the Churnet
Valley Living Landscape, has been approved. It is largely
environmental in focus. The latest management plan is being
scrutinized as well as the refreshment to the visitor strategy.
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Agenda Item
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Stafford Borough
Council
The outsourcing of the Leisure department to a trust is ongoing
and should be completed by autumn. The council is preparing
a new local plan.
National Forest
The team are working on the 2017 campaign. There will be a
networking event to launch the strategy on 7 March. They are
consulting on potential joint membership with VPDD, LPL and
Destination Staffordshire. There has been 180 hectares of
Jubilee Forest added to the Forest. Work is ongoing for the
next Walking Festival.
Staffordshire
County Council
The DMO in Leicestershire has been under review and some
functions of LPL have been taken back in house by the City and
County councils. LPL will still run their market- leading packages
and are likely to offer these as well as wider destination
management services to other destinations. The secretariat
has engaged with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s HLF £250,000
grant “Transforming the Trent Valley” as part of the wider
Central Rivers Initiative.
Rivers and Canal
Trust
Part of above project.
Still waiting decision on LGF 3 funding through South
Staffordshire.
Work on linking Aston Marina, Stone, Barlaston and
Wedgwood is still ongoing.
SP is also working with the Midlands Engine on a tourism
proposition.
Lichfield D.C.
Lichfield was very busy over Christmas with numerous events
and festivals.
Lichfield has launched its City Centre Strategy and hopes to
raise the awareness of the city as an event venue.
The 2017 Guide is due to be distributed.
Waterways Group
JA reported that the Lichfield /Hatherton group are setting up
an appeal for £1 million to tunnel under the west coast line to
link up the canal.
Burslem Port is working up a feasibility report taking in the
Canal restoration funded by CRT, volunteers and the LEP.
Volunteers were upgrading the mooring rings.
Froghall is looking for funding to upgrade to the Uttoxeter
Canal.
Staffordshire
University
Have increased student numbers and more capacity is
required. Looking at raising £1 million through events.
The Poppies roadshow will be displayed in Stoke.
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Lewis Partnership
/Stafford Town
Partnership
Responsibility
Stafford’s new shopping centre is now open.
Wedding sales were down although Christmas was good for the
Lewis Partnership. Conference levels are coming back to
normal and guest chef nights are being trialled.
Colton House
Colton House has added a new mobile website, have
permission for double glazing on the house and have become
an ambassador for Cannock Chase.
Alton Towers
Alton Towers had a good end of season with the fireworks
event being especially successful. The new CBeebies hotel is
due to open in July 2017 with all the rooms themed.
Stoke Tourism
Visitor Survey has just been completed. The tourism strategy
has been signed off and has gone to Cabinet. Stoke will also
have a new website with New Mind using the template
developed for the Enjoy Staffordshire website. 2017 is the
150th anniversary of Arnold Bennett and has been included in
the Visit England’s Literary Heroes campaign.
Brochure output has been rationalised.
NMA
In December an application was approved by the British Legion
for a £8.1m building to replace the marquee to hold events and
is scheduled to open in October 2018n for the commemoration
of the end of World War 1. The major theme for 2017 will be
Passchendaele and be similar in format to the Somme
remembrance.
10. Any other business
No other business
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Next Meetings
Thursday, April 26 at venue to be confirmed
Thursday, July 11 at venue to be confirmed
Thursday, Oct 12 at venue to be confirmed
All meetings start at 13.00 p.m. with a light lunch being served from 12.15 unless
otherwise stated
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