Agenda and minutes

John Silker, Managing Director, Hellaby Hall Hotel, welcomed everyone to the Forum meeting and introduced Julie Roberts, Town Centre, Tourism and Markets Manager, RMBC.

Julie thanked Mr. Silker for offering Hellaby Hall as the venue for the meeting. 

Julie explained her role and that of her staff and informed the meeting of the forthcoming interviews to appoint a Tourism Manager within the Council.  Julie made reference to regional tourism and regional planning issues.  She informed those present of the development of a Tourism Plan for Rotherham, which was currently on hold pending further research.  It was intended to provide Members of the Forum with a copy of the draft.

Reference was also made to the proposed YES project within Rother Valley CountryPark and the expectation that a planning application would be submitted in 2005.

Michelle Mellor, Assistant Tourism Officer, reported on the work of the Tourism section since January 2004 including the following:-

Holiday and Travel Show in Manchester

Ice Magic in the town centre (which resulted in a substantial increase in footfall in the town centre)

Great Days Out Fair

British Travel and Trade Fair

Outdoor Show to promote Rotherham Walking Festival

Rotherham Walking Festival

Royal HorticulturalSociety TattonPark (RMBC won a Silver Medal in the flower bed competition)

Thorpe Salvin Garden Trail

Rotherham by the Sea

BradgatePark Gala

25^th Rotherham Show

Rotherham Markets Festival

Members were informed that the Rotherham Visitor Centre had now been opened for one year and had received 106,535 visitors. 

A brochure listing the range and cost of merchandise that could be obtained from the Centre was made available at the meeting.

Current Work for 2005 included:-

·       Producing a new Visitor Guide

·       Attending the Great Days Out Fair – Group and Coach Operators (Trade Show)

·       Attending the RHSTatton Park – (Consumer Show)

·       Attending the Outdoor Show – (Consumer Show)

It was noted there were no plans to attend the British Travel and Trade Fair as it was not considered to be value for money.

Dawn Runciman, Events and Promotions Officer, explained her background and work experience and detailed the Christmas Carnival events planned for the town centre from 18^th November, 2004, including:-

·       Santa’s Grotto - 18^th November to 24^th November

·       Winter Wonderland - 10^th to 24^th December featuring snow, animatronics, live ice carvings, live music

·       Reindeer -18^th December

·       Frosty the Giant snowman – 11^th December to 24^th December

·       Christmas Craft market – 10^th and 11^th December

Dawn explained that it was proposed to set up a group to plan events for the 2005 Calendar.

Steve Adamson, Marketing and Promotions Manager, Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport, explained the background to the development of the regional airport.  He made reference to Peel Holdings and that company’s background, operations and portfolio. He informed the Forum that the airport scheme included both passenger and cargo operations.  Reference was made to the current regional position and the size of the catchment area, potential passenger numbers, location and transport infrastructure.

The airport would have a new terminal, car parks, runway/taxi ways and a cargo handling centre.

The launch operator was Thomson with five based aircraft and the first flights were on schedule for 16^th March, 2005.

It was estimated that 2000 jobs would be created directly related to the airport with 3000 related jobs and recruitment had now commenced.  The projected impact on the regional income was estimated at £30m over five years.

Operators proposed low cost flights to city destinations in Europe and 19 other holiday destinations, including mainland Spain.  The Airport was in discussion with operators including Thomson Holidays, Thomas Cook, Balkan Holidays, Transun and Newmarket Holidays.

The Ground Handling contract had been won by Serviceair which would create 100 jobs in the start up period.

There was potential for long haul by 2014.

A Fly-Through presentation of the airport terminal (glass and steel structure on two floors; 24 check in desks; ancillary customer services) was played.

Caroline Wilson, South Yorkshire Tourism Manager, referred to the background statistics for tourism in the UK which illustrated:-

-           tourism was worth £76b

-           involved 2.1m jobs

-           provided 7.4% of all employment in GB

-           contributed 4% of GDP and was the UK’s biggest earner with the fastest rate of growth

She explained that following the Foot and Mouth crisis the Government had carried out a review of tourism which had resulted in:-

-                      the Visit Britain tourism promotion

-                      the setting up of the Tourism Alliance representing businesses supported by CBI

-                      Regional Development Agencies (RDA’s) being given funding for the Regional Tourist Boards

-                      the development of Sub-regional Destination Management Organisations (DMO’s)

In relation to tourism in South Yorkshire in 2003 £6.5m of Objective 1 money had been allocated for research, business support skills training and promotion.  Also in 2003 the South Yorkshire Task Group had been established comprised of 18 private/public sector members - its remit being the production of South Yorkshire Action Plan

In 2004 Yorkshire Forward (RDA) had provided the opportunity to form DMO’s in South Yorkshire.

In May 2004 the South Yorkshire Tourism Manager had been appointed for three years to work with the Task Group to enhance the tourism product across South Yorkshire working with local businesses and to develop e-businesses.

A Customer Care Training Programme was due to start in 2005 funded by the Learning and Skills Council (90 places in two trials).

Work was also being carried out on the promotion of gardens at Renishaw Hall, Brodsworth Hall, SheffieldBotanical Gardens as a SY initiative.

Yorkshire Forward had taken over the remit for tourism and had £2m of funding over 4 years to set up 4 or 5 DMO’s in Yorkshire.  The 4 local authorities in South Yorkshire had discussed this.

KPMG had been employed and were in the middle of a consultation process to culminate in a 10 year vision for tourism in South Yorkshire and to look at the possibility of setting up a sustainable DMO.  KPMG were to report in mid January 2005 with a DMO anticipated to be set up and running by April 06.  Consultation with the industry had already started and a link had been set up via the Business Link Website for businesses to give their views on the future of Tourism Management in South Yorkshire.  The weblink is: www.blsy.com/tourismform.htm.

There were opportunities to develop a specific tourism venture, a tourism marketing strategy and a delivery mechanism for tourism in South Yorkshire.

Matthew Beck, Managing Director, Magna Science Adventure Centre, informed Members of his appointment in October 2004.  Currently the Magna Board and staff were carrying out a re-visioning exercise to look at the future for Magna.  He would make a presentation to a future Forum meeting about the way forward for the Centre.

Julie Roberts, Town Centre, Tourism and Markets Manager, reported on the Urban Renaissance initiative funded by Yorkshire Forward.  There was a need to address the decline in the town centre’s vitality and consultants, stakeholders and residents (Town Team) had been involved in producing a twenty year plan for the regeneration of the town.

Town Team had met regularly over the past 18 months and had produced a vision for the town.  The final document would be available in February 2005.  The plan aimed to find a niche for the town centre, to diversify and to alter the perception of the town.

Peter Keary:-  What market was the Renaissance aimed at – A’s or B’s? or down market?

Julie Roberts replied that an examination of the demographics of Rotherham showed a leakage of expenditure out of the Borough and work was being done to looking at ways of retaining this.  Statistics indicated that there was growth potential and opportunity to develop additional floor space.   There was evidence to indicate there was a market to sustain new development.  The overall aim was to put pride back into Rotherham to make it the best place to live, learn and work.

John Silker:- What other operators were planned to be brought into the airport, and were there any long haul operators?

Steve Adamson replied that the airport management were in regular discussion with national and international operators and the aim was to commence operations in 2006.

John Silker:-  Would the infrastructure cope with the projected passenger numbers?

Steve Adamson replied that efforts were being made to encourage the use of public transport.  Discussions had taken place with bus operators and it was proposed that a shuttle operates from Doncaster Rail station.

John Silker:-  How long would the rail link take to be put in place?

Steve Adamson replied that this was in the hands of the Strategic Rail Authority.

Matthew Beck:- What provision would be made for local attractions to advertise in the airport? and would there be special advertising rates?

Steve Adamson replied that this was controlled by Peel Advertising.  However in the short term links could be provided via the Airport Website.

Matthew Beck:-  Was it proposed that there would be a Tourist Information Centre within the airport?

Caroline Wilson replied that discussions were taking place with the airport for there to be a TIC.  The airport would like a manned provision 20 hours per day.  This had been discussed with Yorkshire Tourist Board as well.

George Trow:-  What modelling had been done to assess the effect on the local economy re:  the local hospitality industry and the under capacity in hotels?

Julie Roberts replied that the statistics showed under capacity in both Rotherham and Doncaster.

Eric Shaw:-  What was the scope/limit of expansion of the airport?

Steve Adamson replied that the runway was the third largest and that the new terminal building had been designed so that it could be expanded.  The expansion would be limited by environmental factors i.e. the number of take-offs and landings per day.  The whole development had been based on a twenty year masterplan.

Eric Shaw:-  Referred to a proposal to hold a market at Magna which was turned down because of Rotherham’s market franchise.  Was there any way of getting round this ancient law?

Julie Roberts replied that the proposal was now being looked at in partnership with Magna with a view to developing a better event in the future.  However, she explained that the proposal was in direct competition to the town centre market and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

(i)         Reopening of the Refurbished CliftonPark Museum

Guy Kilminster reported that the museum was due to re-open on 29^th January 2005 following the two year closure.   £3m had been spent on the museum, including £2.1m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.  The new museum would illustrate the complete history of Rotherham.  Exhibitions would be child friendly and interactive.

Guy offered the Museum as the venue for the next meeting of the Forum.

(ii)         YES Project, Rother Valley CountryPark

Clark Herron reported on this proposed development. He informed Members that the developers had already engaged three major anchor tenants:-  Clear Channel, A Drive and Venture Extreme.

It was agreed:-  That the next meeting of the Forum be held at CliftonPark Museum on a date in 2005 following its re-opening, and Members would be notified in due course.