Decision details

Members received and considered Minute OSC20/21 arising from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) meeting held on the 14 September 2020 which considered Tourism Events Funding.

As a result of discussions with the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Communities, Culture and Tourism it was considered appropriate to defer decisions about marketing events until the Bexhill-on-Sea Parish (Town) Council had been established in April 2021 and consulted.

Additional funding had also been requested from Light-Up Bexhill (LUB) to contribute towards the Christmas lights in Bexhill Town Centre.  It was therefore recommended that £3,500 be awarded to LUB, as well as £500 to both Sidley and Little Common towards their Christmas light displays.  The remaining funding would be carried forward into the next financial year. 

RESOLVED: That:

1)   the constitution of a Bexhill Marketing Group be deferred until the establishment of the new Bexhill Parish (Town) Council in April 2021;

2)   £3,500 of the events funding for Bexhill, Rye and the Rural areas not allocated in the 2020/21 financial year be allocated to Light Up Bexhill as an additional contribution towards the Bexhill Town Centre Christmas lights;

3)   £500 of the events funding for Bexhill, Rye and the Rural areas not allocated in the 2020/21 financial year be allocated to both Sidley and Little Common areas as an additional contribution towards their own Christmas lights displays; and

4)   the remaining £13,500 of the events funding for Bexhill, Rye and the Rural areas not allocated in the 2020/21 financial year be carried forward to 2021/22.

(Councillor Bayliss declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in this matter as a sponsor of Light-Up Bexhill and in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct left the meeting during the consideration of Recommendation 2).

(Councillors Byrne and Timpe each declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in this matter as Directors of Light-Up Bexhill Community Interest Company and in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct left the meeting during the consideration of Recommendation 2).

(Councillor Dixon declared a Personal Interest in this matter as a member of Battle Marketing Group and in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct remained in the meeting during the consideration thereof).

(Councillor Drayson declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in this matter as Treasurer of Light-Up Bexhill Community Interest Company and in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct left the meeting during the consideration of Recommendation 2).