Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Finance.

Scrutiny Committee – Resources considered the report at its meeting on 18 November 2015 and its comments will be reported.

The report of the Assistant Director Finance was submitted to request additional funding for 2016/17 and the following two years, to enable the Council to bid for two events to be hosted in Exeter.

Members discussed the ticketing arrangements and distribution for the event detailed in paragraph 8.1.

The Leader proposed that the events detailed in paragraph 8.4 be removed from the recommendation to be reconsidered if a more equitable proposal was put forward. This was agreed by the majority of the Members.

Scrutiny Committee – Resources considered the report at its meeting on 18 November 2015 and its comments were reported.

RECOMMENDED that Council approves a budget for 2016/17 of £125,000 to enable the Council to bid for one event described in paragraph 8.1 to 8.3 to be held in and around the City.

(In accordance with Standing Order no.43, Councillor Leadbetter requested that his abstention from voting be recorded)

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Finance.  

The Assistant Director Finance presented a report which requested additional funding for 2016/17, and the following two years, to enable the Council to bid for two proposed events to be hosted in Exeter.  A short information video was presented in respect of the event detailed in paragraph 8.1. The Arts and Events Manager attended to comment on the wider economic benefits for the city and surrounding areas associated with such events. Every effort would be made to ensure that operational arrangements such as crowd control and traffic management would be discussed with stakeholders and partners.

A Member spoke of his reserved support, commenting on the likely economic benefits and he enquired about the ticketing arrangements.  The Arts and Events Manager provided details of the ticketing and distribution arrangements, which included a ballot with one ticket per person, on a first come, first served basis.  She suggested that opportunities to attract sponsorship and advertising to decrease the budget would be pursued.  A Member welcomed the event, but hoped that every effort would be made to minimise traffic congestion in and around the event site.  The Arts and Events Manager advised that use of the Park and Ride buses would be explored.

The Economy and Tourism Manager also attended and provided more information on the event outlined in paragraph 8.4. The organisers were looking to continue to raise the profile for the event and the city. There were significant benefits as well as a continuation of legacy work which had already commenced.  It was noted that with greater commercial sponsorship and ticket sales, that the contribution would be reduced accordingly.  A Member referred to the possibility of direct negotiation to ensure that the event was not subsidising the organising group, to which the Assistant Director Finance stated that the detailed arrangements were included in the report and the sum requested was to minimise the risk.  The Member was reassured and considered the event would have wide reaching benefits for the city.

Scrutiny Committee - Resources noted the report and requested Executive to support Executive recommending approval by Council for:-

(1)  a budget for 2016/17 of £225,000 to enable the Council to bid for two events more particularly described in paragraph 8.1 of the circulated report to be held in and around the City; and

(2)   a further budget of £100,000 for each year in 2017/18 and 2018/19 to enable one of the events described in paragraph 8.4 of the report to be held in Exeter for a further two years.