Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence from the meeting were received from Councillors G Hibbert, S Hirst, and A Wilkins-Odudu.

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2024 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any disclosable pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interest in respect of matters contained in the agenda.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests.

There was no public participation.

Report of the Director of Economic Development and Planning enclosed.

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report providing Committee with an update on the Clitheroe Food Festival 2024 and seeking approval to hold the event again during summer 2025.

The Ribble Valley Taste Fest had been held between 5 and 9 August 2024 with the Clitheroe Food Festival on 10 August. The report provided an overview of the events and included feedback and data from the online media campaign. The Food Festival had attracted a record 25,000 visitors with a number of stalls selling out. The Food Festival itself was free to attend and did not cover its costs, however, the Taste Fest and Food Festival significantly contributed to the promotion of the Ribble Valley, the tourism sector, and supported local businesses. It was therefore recommended that the Council continue to organise both events. A breakdown of costs was provided for Members information.

Members supported the rationale to continue to hold a one-day festival, which included reduced transport provision for visitors on Sunday, impact on local businesses, impact on volunteers and Officers, and costs. It was also noted that a two-day festival may not necessarily increase total footfall but may dilute the numbers across the two days. Continuation of the Taste Fest was also supported, which would spread events across the week in the lead up to the festival.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.     Agrees to hold:

1.1The Ribble Valley Test Fest from Monday 5 August to Friday 8 August

1.2The Clitheroe Food Festival on Saturday 9 August

2.     Delegates authority to the Director of Economic Development and Planning to organise and deliver both events in 2025.

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report for information on the progress on this Committee’s 2024/25 capital programme for the period to the end of September 2024.

There had been no spend or commitments made against the capital programme budget. The position of the one capital scheme budget was that it was unlikely to be spent by financial year-end.

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report for information on the position of the 2024/25 revenue budget for this Committee as at the end of September 2024.

The comparison between actual and budgeted expenditure showed an overall overspend for the period to the end of September 2024 of £45,087.

Report of the Director of Economic Development and Planning enclosed.

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted an information report providing general progress on tourism activity including the Ribble Valley Destination Management Plan, funded projects, marketing and promotional activity, PR and media, business support/liaison, Ribble Valley Tourism Association, the Tourism Gathering and Stars in Tourism Awards, Ribble Valley Wedding Heaven, and employment and skills for tourism and hospitality.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed.

The Chief Executive submitted a report informing Committee about the year-end report for 2023/2024 detailing performance against the Council’s local performance indicators.

There was only one key performance indicator (KPI) monitored for Economic Development Committee, which was CO2 reduction from local authority operations. The data for which was awaited following renewal of the contract agreement with One Carbon World (OCW).

There were no reports from representatives on outside bodies.

A notice of motion was proposed by Councillor Mark French and seconded by Councillor Rosie Elms.

The motion sought Committee approval:

To request Officers to prepare a report on Doughnut Economics and report back to this Committee on how Doughnut Economics could inform the next review of the Council’s Climate Action Plan 2024/2025 and Economic Plan 2023-2026.

Members debated and spoke both for and against the proposal. It was noted that the suggestion was not to adopt the principle but to investigate it further. Other Members felt it was a wide subject which needed careful consideration against the Council’s corporate and climate change priorities.

Councillor Stephen Atkinson proposed an amendment to the motion referring further consideration to Members of the Climate Change Working Group. The amendment was seconded by Councillor Sophie Cowman.

A vote was taken on this as the substantive motion and the motion was carried, it was therefore;

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Agree that doughnut economics should be considered by Members of the Climate Change Working Group to consider whether the framework could inform the Council’s policy development.

There are no items under this heading.

There were no items under this heading.