Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Christmas Lights Task and Finish Working Group.

Scrutiny Committee – Economy considered the report at its meeting on 30 May 2013 and its comments will be reported.

(Report circulated)

(Minute 57)

The report of the City Centre Manager was submitted, setting out key outputs from the work of the Task and Finish Group.

Members were advised that Christmas Lights in the City Centre had been a long- standing issue and the task and finish group had focused on the effective use of Council funds and the need to provide a quality display for the core of the City Centre.

Scrutiny Committee - Economy considered the report at its meeting on 30 May 2013 and the comments of members were noted.

Noting the options and the reasons stated in the report Executive recommendedto Council that a budget of £14,500 be allocated for 2013, 2014 and 2015 to provide a core display of Christmas Lights.

The report of the City Centre Manager was submitted, setting out key outputs from the work of the Task and Finish Group.

Members were advised that Christmas Lights in the City Centre had been a long- standing issue and the task and finish group had focused on the effective use of Council funds and the need to provide a quality display for the core of the City Centre.

Scrutiny Committee - Economy considered the report at its meeting on 30 May 2013 and the comments of members were noted.

RECOMMENDED to Council that a budget of £14,500 be allocated for 2013, 2014 and 2015 to provide a core display of Christmas Lights.

(Report circulated)

To consider the report of the Christmas Lights Task and Finish Working Group – report circulated

The City Centre Manager presented the report setting out key outputs from the work of the Task and Finish Group, which had been set up to look at the future funding of the City Centre Christmas  Lights.  The key element was the delivery of a core lighting display funded by the City Council, offering a lead for businesses to follow. This would require a core budget of £14,500 for the financial years 2013/14; 2014/15 and 2015/16.  The Task and Finish Group suggested a range of activities including targeting businesses to develop and support a new partnership approach to Christmas Lights funding. It was agreed that the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Tourism should work closely with officers on developing a co-ordinated approach to securing business support for the proposed approach to lights funding.

Scrutiny Committee – Economy supported the proposals from the Task and Finish Group as set out in paragraph 3.7 of the circulated report and requested approval by the Executive for an identified £14,500 budget for 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 to provide a core display of Christmas Lights.

 (Report circulated)