Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were tabled from Councillor Barrie Pierpoint with Councillor Richard Austin substituting.

Apologies for absence were tabled from Councillors Maureen Dennis, Elizabeth Ransome, Yvonne Stevens and Nigel Welton with no substitute members.

To sign and confirm the  minutes of the previous meeting.

Prior to agreeing the minutes a member asked why two actions had not been produced:  the issuing of the briefing note on the re evaluation of business rates and the provision of the costs of tickets and advertising timescales for the car parking tickets. 

Officers assured that both actions had been addressed but that the information for each action would be re-sent to ensure receipt by all members.

Committee agreed that the Chairman sign the minutes of the previous meeting.

To receive declarations of interests in respect of any item on the agenda.

No declarations of interest were tabled.

To answer any written questions received from members of the public no later than 5 p.m. two clear working days prior to the meeting.

No public questions were tabled.

A presentation by the Chairman of Die Hanse

The committee received a presentation by The Chairman of Die Hanse in Boston, Mrs Alison Fairman who was supported by Mr George Bell the Employer Engagement Manager and Ms Lindsey McBarron the Treasurer and Events Organiser.

Prior to updating the committee on its progress to date, a brief history of Hanse was provided. 

Members were advised that the word Hanse meant ‘community’ and had originated from travelling merchants who had belonged to the guild.   By 1200 Boston had begun trading with Europe, primarily with Bergen and Boston had been the main contact in England for Hanse.  The Port of Boston at that period had been sited just North of the current port and had a large Hanse warehouse (known as a Steleyard) which had a slipway for the Cogges (the small ships used at that time).

Within the Hanseatic League both Boston and Lynn had been the twin Wash Ports of eastern England.  Both towns became two of the wealthiest in England during that period because of the Hanse Trade.  By 1300 Boston had become the second biggest port in England due to the export of fleeces which were transported from Lincoln to Boston: in excess of 3,000,000 fleeces per annum had been exported.    Boston’s annual fair which during that time was held over a month, attracted many traders from all across Europe with members of Royalty attending the fair to personally collect taxes from the traders.  

The murder of one of the Merchants triggered their movement from Boston which was exacerbated by the silting up of the river.  The Americas’ had been discovered and the Hanse domination of the seas diminished.  By 1400 Hanse in Bergen was in decline and Boston had lost all its trade.  The last Hanseatic meeting took place in Lubeck in 1669.

Committee were provided with photographic evidence of the historic buildings within Boston which were used during the period together with a comparative view of the riverside architecture in both Lubeck and Boston.

In 2012 Pamela Cawthorne had written a paper on Boston in respect of its history with Hanse.  Whilst writing the paper contacted had been made with Mrs Fairman in respect of the demographic changes in Boston.  Assistance had been provided which in turn had led to the exploration of Boston joining Hanse which had started up again in 1980 in Lubeck.

Consideration was given to the benefits in joining Hanse and a number of factors were recognised. Hanse members were in Europe and in particular Eastern Europe where a large number of immigrants into the Boston population had arrived from:  joining could help in local community cohesion.  Boston had an unexploited history and a growing visitor economy.  Furthermore Boston had a working port which could attract new business and the History of Boston Project and Preservation Trust had confirmed their support of any move to join Hanse.

Contact had been made with the Council to seek its support which was vital for any admission application to be submitted: reports had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

(For Members to note/discuss the Committee’s current work programme)

The Chairman referenced the recent Scrutiny Training and the outcomes of which that affected the future scheduling and planning of the work programme.   Whilst a brief discussion took place, a member respectfully suggested that due to the small number of members actually in attendance, the item should be deferred until the next meeting.

The Chief Executive suggested it may assist the committee if a report is bought back to the next meeting, on the feedback from the Scrutiny training would also include the suggestion by the Chairman of the Corporate and Community Committee that each committee focus it’s business on the corporate priorities as against solely on the portfolio holder service areas.

Recommended:  That the item be deferred until the next scheduled meeting of the committee 12 June 2017 and that a covering report be produced to assist the committee to agree the way forward in the scheduling of its’ work programme.

With agreement of all in attendance that a report on the first six months activity of the Environmental Enforcement service be scheduled onto the work programme to allow the committee to monitor the enforcement.

TO DO:

1. That a report be produced by the Head of Hr and Transformation based on the outcomes of the Scrutiny Training to be used as the covering report for the work programme.

A report by the Head of Town Centre, Leisure, Centre, Events and Culture.

The report was tabled in line with a recommendation from phase one of the Prosperous Boston Task and Finish Group that the officers explore the initiative of a Teenage Market for Boston to encourage young people to take up the opportunity to run market stalls and hold events.

Committee were advised that the potential benefits of such markets included attracting the next generation of market traders which was important as over 70% of existing market traders nationally were over the age of 50 and it was important to identify young traders for the future prosperity of the market and the town to address the declining longevity of the market traders.

Furthermore by harnessing the creativity of the young people and giving them a platform to showcase their talents or trial a new business and sell creative products, it would have the knock on effect of encouraging their friends and family to come along and support their endeavours:  leading to an increase in attendance at the markets.  Finally by offering specialist live and retail performances in a thriving market place it would attract a new generation of shoppers and visitors to the town sustaining and increasing the future tourism of the town.  There was no age limit and the provision could be offered to graduates who may be wishing to trial businesses.

Initially the Council would be looking to provide two large scale events then tie in some small ones with the craft markets and other specialist days. However to do this additional money would be required which was not budgeted for in order to allow for increased advertising of the events into magazines.  The events team could accommodate the administration but as the events budget set for 2017/2018 was set there would be a need to divert funds from elsewhere for this one year, should committee wish to take the recommendation forward.

Committee were advised that Teenage Markets were well established nationally and had gained national media attention including support from Mary Portas and Hilary Devey.   Following the success of the first event the founders developed the idea further, and expanded it across the Country. Currently Teenage Markets were in place in over 30 locations across the UK:  the benefits increasing spend in the relevant areas and importantly increasing the footfall to the existing markets.

The costs to put on such a market would be £1280 for one year and £1530 for two years (the cost included the registration fee along with insurance cost of £530).  The registration fee would include branding, the edit portal, processing of digital applications, geolocation integration, together with poster and flyer designs and automated emails.  Most importantly the fee would allow the Council to

The cost would allow the Council to run either four large Teenage Markets per year with up to 100 stallholders and performers including singers, dancers and musicians, or 12 small Teenage Markets with up to 20 stallholders and assorted performers. 

More importantly it would allow the Council to access the huge  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

A verbal update on the activity of the group by the Chairman and the Head of Town Centre, Leisure, events and Culture.

The Chairman confirmed that Phase one and two of the review had been concluded with simple update reports on each phase having been tabled through the parent committee and Cabinet.   Cabinet had agreed all the actions identified across the two phases and continued to support the ongoing review which is noted was actively achieving changes as it progressed.

The third and final phase of the review (accommodation; events and promotion) had started and had begun with a full consultation and face to face meeting with the hospitality providers of the Borough.  The response had exceeded the groups’ expectations and a significant amount of information had been collated:  the businesses overall were supportive of the ongoing activity of the group and positive comments and recognition of improvements of services across the town had been tabled.  A number of concerns and negative comments had been addressed by the introduction of the Environmental Enforcement team and remaining concerns on events and promotion of the town, taken forward into the last two stages of the final phase.

Committee received and the report and agreed its support of the review.