Minutes:
Simon Colburn, Assistant Director (Health and Environmental Services)
a. gave a power point presentation on developing the new events programme and covered the following main points:
· New Branding
· Our Aim
· What we want to achieve
· Our Approach to developing the programme
· Seeking a range of views
· Results so far – What people would like to see
· Key results – public information gathering
· A full range of ideas
· Event Themes
· Types of Market
· Enhancement/ more often
· The 2023 Programme
o Lincoln Live
o Lincoln Monster Invasion
o Christmas in Lincoln
§ Ice Trail – 9 and 10th December
§ Christmas lights and light Trail
§ Additional small scale content
· The CoLC and BIG 2023 Programme
· Next Steps
b. invited members questions and comments
Question: Please could more information be provided about the monster invasion.
Response: About 8 giant inflatable, illuminated monsters would be displayed on roof tops throughout the City. They would provide great photo opportunities and had worked well throughout other Cities. It was an innovative way to drive footfall in the City.
Comment: Pleased to see that Christmas lights would also be placed in the lower High Street area. Businesses often commented that Christmas lights were needed in this area.
Question: Were Officers confident that more big events would be planned for 2024, especially in areas below the Stonebow?
Response: The aspiration was to hold one or two big, multi venue events across the City, utilising the public spaces.
Question: How would the success of the events be measured?
Response: A range of measures would be used to monitor spend and footfall for each event. These included using CCTV to measure footfall across the City. We would ask marketing students from the University to carry out surveys at the event, asking visitors questions such as where they were from and how much they had spent. An online survey using a QR code was also to be used with an incentive to enter a competition on completion of the survey. We would also gather feedback from businesses.
Question: Would the old Christmas lights be recycled or repurposed?
Response: The new contractors would advise how they could be disposed of.
Question: How would the events be advertised?
Response: The communications team would produce branding for the events. They would be advertised via Visit Lincoln and Destination Lincoln. They would also be advertised via the Facebook Christmas Market page which had been retained and renamed ‘Events in Lincoln.’
Question: Please could more information be provided on the Ice trail.
Response: Fifteen to twenty pre carved ice blocks in Christmas motifs would be displayed around the City from Newport Arch to St Marks.
Question: Were there incentives for businesses to get involved in events?
Response: Yes, partnership working was key, discussions were taking place with businesses asking them to get involved in the events.
Question: Had work been done to address public transport issues during these events?
Response: A park and ride would not be provided, but discussions were taking place with Stagecoach and East Midlands Railway.
Question: Were the inflatable monsters weather resistant?
Response: Yes, extensive work on health and safety was completed for all events.
RESOLVED that:
1.
The presentation be noted with thanks
2. An update on the Events Programme be scheduled in to the Policy Scrutiny Committee work programme at the appropriate time.