Agenda item

To enable Cabinet to give consideration to recommendations made by the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee in respect of the Tendring Road Rally.

RESOLVED that –

a)     the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Task and Finish Group be thanked for their work in producing this report;

b)     Tendring District Council commits to being a partner in the delivery of future Road Rally events offering support and assistance in the areas of resident consultation, PR and communications, event management and distribution of signage; and

c)        the final report is shared with Essex Police, Chelmsford Motor Club, Essex Highways and the Motor Sports Association and that these organisations be strongly requested to have regard to the final recommendations particularly those that relate to the safe running of the event.

Cabinet was informed that, at the meeting of the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 1 October 2018 (minute 19 referred), that Committee had had before it a report of the Head of Leadership Support and Community which had presented it with the outcome of the review undertaken by the Task and Finish Group on the Tendring Road Rally with recommendations for consideration and submission to Cabinet.

Having considered and discussed the report the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee had:-

“RESOLVED that this Committee recommends to Cabinet that –

a)     Cabinet decides whether Tendring District Council should become a joint partner, or continue to act as a consulting partner or oversight body in respect of the 2019 Road Rally;

b)     Cabinet be requested in its decision making to take into account the recommendations of the Task and Finish Review; and

c)      Cabinet be also requested to pay particular close attention to the health and safety issues around this event.”

A full copy of the Task and Finish Group’s report and recommendations was before the Cabinet attached as Appendix A to item A.1 of the Reference from the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Cabinet was made aware that the Leisure and Tourism Portfolio Holder had commented as follows:-

“I would like to thank the Community Leadership Committee and in particular the members of the Task and Finish Group for their hard work in producing this report.

The Road Rally is one of many diverse events that are important to promoting the Tendring area for tourists and visitors as well as residents and for generating income for the businesses in the area. Tourism brings in over £370m to the Tendring District and thousands of jobs are dependent on it.

I recommend that Tendring District Council is a joint partner in the delivery of the future Road Rally events and, whilst Chelmsford Motor Club will continue to retain responsibility for the route planning, marshalling and running of the rally for 2019, the Council is able to offer assistance in the following areas:-

• Distribution of residents letters - as well as delivering to residents along the route we will look to widen the net and also capture houses peripheral to the route.
• Signs and other infrastructure - in principal the Council can agree to placing the concrete blocks on Marine Parade as was done last year.  Furthermore, we will distribute the signs and barriers to their locations in preparation for the road closures etc. 
• PR/Communications – the Council will assist and support on  communications and our PR Manager will provide some thoughts on a communication plan including audience, channels of communication, branding and key messages.
• Event Management – The Council is happy to share its knowledge, expertise and contacts for the running of special events.
• Safety Advisory Group – Tendring District Council will continue to chair the Safety advisory Group and will engage with partners in the emergency services and other stakeholders. It is recognised that health and safety must be and remain a key concern for the running of this event.

I will ask Officers to review the recommendations from the report to determine those that have relevance for the Council and how these can be delivered. I will also ask for the final report from the Committee to be shared with Essex Police, Chelmsford Motor Club and Essex Highways, and I would strongly urge these organisations to have regard to the recommendations of the Committee particularly those that relate to the safe running of the event.”

Having considered the recommendations of the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the responses of the leisure and Tourism Portfolio Holder thereto:-

It was moved by Councillor Skeels Snr., seconded by Councillor Nicholls and:-

RESOLVED that –

a)     the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Task and Finish Group be thanked for their work in producing this report;

b)     Tendring District Council commits to being a partner in the delivery of future Road Rally events offering support and assistance in the areas of resident consultation, PR and communications, event management and distribution of signage; and

c)     the final report is shared with Essex Police, Chelmsford Motor Club, Essex Highways and the Motor Sports Association and that these organisations be strongly requested to have regard to the final recommendations particularly those that relate to the safe running of the event.