Dover Town Council

Minutes 15.01.08

DOVER TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting of the TOURISM, TWINNING & CIVIC FUNCTIONS COMMITTEE held at the Council Offices, Maison Dieu House, Biggin Street, Dover on Tuesday 15th January 2008 at 6.00pm.

PRESENT

Councillor G Cowan (Chairman)
Councillor Mrs S G Amos
Councillor R Frayne
Councillor Mrs V Philpott
Councillor Mrs D G Smallwood

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors C Precious and P Verrill.


545. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

No declarations of either personal or prejudicial interest were made by members present.


546. MINUTES

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 6th November 2007 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.


547. COMMITTEE BUDGET

The Committee noted the latest out-turn against the Committee’s 2007/08 budget (handed out at the meeting). Councillor Frayne asked if the Treasurer could explain why the Deputy Mayor’s Chain provision was still showing £1508 when the chain had been purchased and the balance should show zero. It was requested that the answer be available at the Committee’s next meeting.


548. TOWN COUNCIL LINKS

The Committee considered the current position regarding links with Calais, Split & Zeebrugge, and noted Mr B Philp of Dover Roman Painted House Trust’s note of 3rd December 2007. The Committee noted that there was nothing to report with regards to links with Calais, Split and Zeebrugge at the present time.

The Committee noted Mr C Elphicke’s emails of 3rd, 5th and 6th December 2007 regarding a proposal to twin with Chizhou in China. The Committee noted that the population of Chizhou is currently 1.5 million. The Committee agreed that, unfortunately, due to the size of its population Chizhou would be too big for the Town Council to consider twinning with it.

RESOLVED: That no further action be taken with regard to Mr Elphicke’s proposal to twin with Chizhou in China.

549. TOURISM

The Committee considered S Crossfield of Gosh PR’s email of 7th November 2007 regarding doyoutravel.com.

RESOLVED: a) That no further action be taken with regard to the proposals detailed in Mr Crossfield’s email as the Town Council already has its own website and that an email be sent to Mr Crossfield informing him of the Committee’s decision;

b) That a link for doyoutravel.com be added to the links page on Town Council’s new website.


550. DOVER/CALAIS FESTIVAL OF SPORT

The Committee considered the current position regarding the 2008 Dover/Calais Festivals of Sport.

RESOLVED: a) That the Technical Support Officer be authorised to start organising the 2008 Dover/Calais Festival of Sport, due to be held in Dover this year, similar to previous years within the provision for the Dover/Calais Festival of Sport in the Committee’s 2008/09 budget;

b) That the medals be purchased for the 2008 Dover/Calais Festival of Sport in association with the Festival of Dover 2008 and that wording for the medals be discussed at the Committee’s next meeting.


551. ST. GEORGE’S DAY/ZEEBRUGGE RAID COMMEMORATIONS 2008

The Committee considered preparations for the Town Council’s St. George’s Day/Zeebrugge Raid Commemorations on 23rd April 2008, which will be the 90th Anniversary of the Raid on Zeebrugge. The Committee noted that there had been 4 positive responses and 1 negative response from the VIP’s invited to attend. It was also noted that preparations are on-going.


552. HONOUR BOARDS

The Committee considered the current position regarding the production of ‘Honour Boards’ for the listing of all of the Mayor’s of Dover, including Mr C Johnson, Headmaster of Duke of York’s Royal Military School’s letter of 30th November 2007.

RESOLVED: That the Chairman meet with the Teacher mentioned in Mr Johnson’s letter to discuss the best way forward for this project and to ascertain approximate costs if possible.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND: That, subject to the above meeting and related costs, that in the first instance an Honour Board be created to list the Mayors of Dover Town Council from is creation in 1996.


553. BEACH VOLLEYBALL

The Committee considered and noted Mr A Cooper’s letter of 5th December 2007 concerning the possibility of building a beach volleyball court in Dover.

RESOLVED: That no further action be taken on this matter at the present time unless more interested and committed interest comes forward.


554. DOVERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

The Committee considered the cost implications of progressing the Dovers throughout the world project, including Mrs L Sencicle’s letter of 30th November 2007.
RESOLVED: a) That Mrs Sencicle be authorised to approach her contacts on the Town Council’s behalf to ascertain the names and addresses of the Civic Dignitaries in the Dovers that she is in contact with so that she can pass this information onto the Town Council for action;

b) That letters be sent to local Primary and Secondary Schools to ascertain interest in a ‘pen pal’ style letter exchange with schools within the Dovers of the world.

c) That a maximum of £300 be set aside within the Tourism provision in the Committee’s 2007/08 budget to cover any costs incurred.


555. ‘DAZZLEVILLE’ IN DOVER

The Committee considered Wildest Dreams’ letter of 30th October 2007 concerning a proposal for ‘Dazzleville’ in Dover.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND: That as this project is not tourism, twinning or civic related that the Town Council discuss supporting this event at a future meeting.


556. DOVER BOWLING CLUB

The Committee considered and noted Mr P Gretton of Dover Bowling Club’s letter of 19th November 2007 concerning the appointment of a new Honorary Secretary.


557. DEPUTY CONSTABLE OF DOVER CASTLE

The Committee considered and noted Mrs T Pritchard’s letter of 9th November 2007 concerning the change of Deputy Constable of Dover Castle.


558. HMS KENT

The Committee considered and noted Ian Russell’s email of 29 November 2007 concerning the rearranged visit to Dover by HMS Kent.

The Committee noted HMS Kent’s Newsletter of 12th December 2007.


559. REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY 2007

The Committee considered and noted Mr C Elphicke’s letter of 13th November 2007 concerning the Remembrance Sunday Commemorations held on 11th November 2007.

RESOLVED: That a letter be sent to Mr Elphicke thanking him for his letter and kind comments.


560. DOVER REGATTA 2008

The Committee considered the Dover Regatta Core Group’s letter of 28th November 2007 regarding the provision of a tent for the Town Council at the 2008 Dover Regatta.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND: That a letter be sent to the Dover Regatta Core Group accepting their offer regarding the 6m x 3m tent for the 2008 Dover Regatta and asking if it is possible for the Town Council to site its own 4m x 4m tent next to that allocated for them.




561. CIVIC GIFTS

The Committee considered the Project Development Officer’s report of 10th December 2007 regarding the purchase of Civic Gifts.

The Committee noted W H Darby Ltd’s letter dated 15th January 2008 regarding their new catalogue and subsequent price rises.

RESOLVED: a) That a maximum of £500 be set aside for the purchase of civic gifts from the provision for Civic Hospitality in the Committee’s 2007/08 budget.

b) That the decision for which promotional items are purchased for the Town Council remain with the Tourism, Twinning & Civic Functions Committee in consultation with whichever Mayor is in office at the time of ordering using local suppliers as appropriate.


The meeting closed at 7.20pm






Councillor G Cowan
CHAIRMAN