Agenda and minutes

There were none.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 March 2024, be approved as a correct record.

·         Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

·         Other Interests

There were none.

(At least two clear days notice required, in writing, to the Proper Officer in accordance with Procedure Rule 15).

There were none.

Members received a presentation from Rob Wilks Managing Director at MyActive - Alliance Leisure Limited.

The presentation reflected on the first six months as a trading company between October 1^st 2024 and March 31^st 2025.

The information given covered the following;

·         People,

·         Marketing and Communications,

·         Financial Performance,

·         Sales Performance,

·         Asset Management,

·         Environmental Sustainability and

·         New Health and Wellbeing Initiatives.

Members congratulated the team on a positive outcome.

Members discussed the future of the company in relation to Local Government Reorganisation, opportunities for Birchall, customer feedback, Leisure Transformation Programme review, comparative figures and affordable offers.   

Members suggested a forward plan be returned to a future meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the presentation be received.

Members received a Street Furniture report and accompanying asset location maps for Leek, Cheadle and Biddulph. The report provided a summary of Street Furniture assets held on the Asset Team’s database and the approach taken to the register, management and maintenance of Street Furniture.

Street Furniture is the term given to assets that serve the public but do not constitute a property or land holding. This includes benches, fingerposts, streetlamps, pigeon blocks, bollards, planters, signage, dustbins and cycle stands.

The Chair introduced the Officer who wrote the report.

Members discussed the urgency for the register to be updated, opportunities for parishes to take over assets, the difficulties in establishing ownership of each asset and support from AES on bin location.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the report be debated.

2.    That a working group be established.

Members received a presentation which covered the following topics:

Tourism Update

·         Itineraries and Trails,

·         Discover Staffordshire Moorlands Website Data,

·         Visit Peak District & Derbyshire Website Data 2024/25,

·         Staffordshire Moorlands Walking Festival,

·         Walking Festival Incentives,

·         Walking Festival Statistics,

·         Walking Festival Feedback,

·         Key Community Events,

·         UKSPF,

·         Staffordshire Moorlands Tourism Awards,

·         LVEP Update,

·         LVEP Board and

·         LVEP Progress

Accommodation Acceleration Plan

·         Staffordshire Accommodation Demand,

·         Staffordshire Moorlands Key Findings and

·         Town Visitor Data

Members thanked the team for the presentation and the hard work in driving forward the Tourism Strategy. Members discussed how the Local Plan could help support investment and accommodation, targets for next three years and urban/rural trends for accommodation. The development of 2/3 day itineraries was welcomed and recognised the benefit of attracting people from outside the District and use of radio advertising, social media platforms. Park and ride in town centres was raised alongside some ideas about long stay carparking strategy and holding events outside of normal holiday season was a identified as a way to extend the tourist season.

Members commented that Moneystone was an opportunity for increasing the economic impact of tourism. They then discussed the use of tiktok for featured locations, advertising in local magazines, caravan and camping data and the JCB LIV tournament as a driver for tourism.

The Panel suggested they receive data showing District distribution of overnight stays and want to promote community events via the tourism website.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the presentation be received.

2.    That the recommendations from the draft report be bought to this committee in September.

Any additional items to be added to the Work Programme:

·         Chair’s Items

·         Members’ Items

The Chair advised that the Green Spaces Strategy had moved from July 2024 to January 2025 to allow for the compilation of data.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the update be received.

2.    That the Accommodation Acceleration Plan return in September 2024.