Issue - meetings

To allocate £25,000 from Reserves to support Tewkesbury Together 2021.

1.       That £25,000 be allocated from reserves to support Tewkesbury Together 2021.

2.       That the Head of Development Services and Head of Finance and Asset Management, in consultation with the Lead Member for Finance and Asset Management and the Lead Member for Economic Development/Promotion, be authorised to spend the allocation.

56.1          The report of the Head of Development Services, circulated at Pages No. 219-221, outlined the aims for Tewkesbury Together, plus a proposal for potential funding from the Council. Members were asked to allocate £25,000 from reserves to support Tewkesbury Together 2021 and to delegate authorisation of the spend to the Head of Development Services and the Head of Finance and Asset Management, in consultation with the Lead Members for Finance and Asset Management and Economic Development/Promotion.

56.2          The Economic and Community Development Manager explained that 2021 was a momentous year for Tewkesbury as it would be 900 years since the consecration of the Abbey and 550 years since the Battle of Tewkesbury, and a Steering Group had been formed in the town to represent various organisations with the aim of putting together a programme of events to celebrate the significant date. Unfortunately the planning had been somewhat hampered by COVID-19 and the uncertainty of what would and would not go ahead over the coming months, so there was not currently an agreed schedule of events in place; notwithstanding this, it had been requested that the Borough Council allocate a sum of £25,000 towards the 2021 celebrations. It was recommended that the Steering Group could then submit proposals for the funds which would be delegated to the relevant Heads of Service and Lead Members to approve.

56.3          During the discussion which ensued, a Member questioned what kind of events were planned and, in response, the Economic and Community Development Manager confirmed there were ideas for improving existing events as well as adding new ones such as light shows, school activities, public art, and sport and art events – unfortunately this was all dependent upon the situation with the pandemic. It was hoped that by next summer the world would be in a much better position and events could take place across the whole Borough to commemorate the occasions. In terms of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Member questioned what would happen to the funding if the Steering Group could not hold any events and she was advised that the proposals would come to the relevant Officers and Members for endorsement, so if no events took place, none of the money would be spent. The figure of £25,000 was considered to be a sensible figure but if the Steering Group submitted a proposal which cost slightly more then that would be considered under the delegation. A suggestion was made that the recommendation be amended to include a need for events to draw in the rest of the Borough but, in response, the Chief Executive confirmed that he was certain the organisers would want to engage people from across the whole Borough, as well as those further afield, given the significance of the celebration.

56.4          Accordingly, it was