Agenda item

To request that Cabinet agrees an action plan and associated budgetary provision to set out the Council’s commitment to the Mayflower 400 commemorations.

RESOLVED that –

(a)       the action plan for Mayflower 400, as set out in Appendix A to item A.8 of the Joint Report of the Finance and Corporate Resources Portfolio Holder, the Investment and Growth Portfolio Holder and the Leisure and Tourism Portfolio Holder, be approved and adopted;

(b)       a budget of £135,000 be set aside in 2018/19 (£68,000 from the Business Investment and Growth Budget and £67,000 from the New Burdens Funding carried forward from 2017/18) to support the Mayflower 400 action plan;

(c)     authority to approve the allocation of the budget to individual projects, together with securing match funding on a project by project basis, be delegated to the Portfolio Holders for Finance & Corporate Resources, Investment & Growth and Leisure & Tourism.

Councillor I J Henderson had earlier in the meeting declared a Personal Interest in relation to this item insofar as he was involved in the planned commemorations through his various roles and responsibilities as a Harwich Town Councillor, a member of the Harwich Tourism Group and as a member of the management board for the Harwich Festival organisation.

The Cabinet gave consideration to a detailed joint report of the Finance and Corporate Resources Portfolio Holder, the Investment and Growth Portfolio Holder and the Leisure and Tourism Portfolio Holder which requested that Cabinet approved an action plan and associated budgetary provision in order to set out the Council’s commitment to the Mayflower 400 commemorations.

Members were aware that the year 2020 marked the 400^th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower ship to America. The port of Harwich had played an intrinsic role in that iconic story (which was linked to the birth of American civilisation and the story of Thanksgiving).  The ship and its captain, Christopher Jones had hailed from Harwich and John Alden, the Cooper and first pilgrim to set foot on American soil, was also widely believed to have originated from Harwich.

It was reported that this anniversary provided a once in a generation opportunity for Harwich to regenerate its tourism offer and to open the door to new markets and much needed long term economic development.  It was widely believed that thirty five million people could claim to be descendants of the Pilgrims who had boarded the Mayflower and evidence showed that 12% of the general population of the United States of America (USA) saw the anniversary as a reason to visit England in 2020 and revisit the story of their ancestors.  That evidence was supported by a number of Mayflower themed tours already being promoted in the USA and a number of bookings confirmed from 2019 onwards.

Cabinet was informed that an externally commissioned report projected that the economic impact of Mayflower 400 nationally for the period 2019-2024 was anticipated at a £615m increase in direct spend and £768m in business turnover.  Even a very small proportion of this national uplift being directed to the District of Tendring would have a wide ranging impact on the local economy.

Members were aware that the Council had been working, for around three years, with The ‘Mayflower Compact’, which was a group of national and international partners, to develop an official ‘Mayflower Trail’ to expand and open new tourism markets in the USA, The Netherlands and the wider United Kingdom (UK).  A decision had already been made by the Council to open up the historic house of Captain Christopher Jones to visitors for the first time.

Cabinet was advised that The Mayflower Compact was a unique partnership of 11 UK destinations which were connected by the Mayflower story.  With central Government money and other external funding secured over recent years, the group had been able to work extensively with the USA travel market and to promote the trail at international trade shows such as ‘World Travel Market’ and ‘Seatrade’.  This had elevated the District of Tendring to a platform it could not achieve in isolation and had attracted USA journalists, esteemed travel writers and, importantly, had led to group travel bookings being confirmed some two years in advance of their arrival.  Through this platform, Mayflower 400 had the potential to confirm and re-establish Tendring as a District of outstanding heritage on an international level and be the catalyst for long term regeneration through tourism. 

Members were informed that, in order to produce a tangible tourism product that would ensure a high quality, sustainable experience was offered to visitors, an action plan, including visitor attractions, events and physical assets had been developed to maximise the benefits of the Mayflower anniversary and to showcase the heritage offered by Harwich and the wider Tendring District. That action plan was before Cabinet as Appendix A to the aforementioned joint report and included the opening of Christopher Jones’ house together with the following projects:-

·           the provision of a Welcome/Heritage Centre to showcase the relationship between Harwich and the Mayflower in an interactive museum style experience;

·           the provision of a heritage trail around the historic town of Harwich, including way markers, trail-heads and pavement plaques;

·           a diverse programme of Mayflower themed events throughout the anniversary year; and

·           a programme of sport.

Cabinet was made aware that it would take a collaborative approach with a range of key partners and support from the local business community to ensure that the full potential of Mayflower 400 was realised.  With that in mind, the budget identified of £135,000 would be used to attract additional funding from partners, such as Essex County Council and Harwich Town Council and provide match funding for appropriate external funding bids.  The Council was actively talking to partners about additional investment. Each project listed in the action plan would require the authority of the Portfolio Holders for Finance & Corporate Resources, Investment & Growth and Leisure & Tourism before they could be progressed.

With the permission of the Leader of the Council, Councillor Watling MP addressed the meeting on the subject matter of this item.

Members gave a vote of thanks to the Head of Sport and Leisure (Mike Carran) and his team for the huge amount of effort and time that they had devoted, and continued to devote to this unique opportunity for the District.

Having considered the information provided in the joint report and the accompanying Appendix:-

It was moved by Councillor Fairley, seconded by Councillor McWilliams and:-

RESOLVED that –

(a)       the action plan for Mayflower 400, as set out in Appendix A to item A.8 of the Joint Report of the Finance and Corporate Resources Portfolio Holder, the Investment and Growth Portfolio Holder and the Leisure and Tourism Portfolio Holder, be approved and adopted;

(b)       a budget of £135,000 be set aside in 2018/19 (£68,000 from the Business Investment and Growth Budget and £67,000 from the New Burdens Funding carried forward from 2017/18) to support the Mayflower 400 action plan;

(c)     authority to approve the allocation of the budget to individual projects, together with securing match funding on a project by project basis, be delegated to the Portfolio Holders for Finance & Corporate Resources, Investment & Growth and Leisure & Tourism.