Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence from the meeting.

Apologies were received for Councillor A Newman.

To be notified of the appointment of any substitute members.

There were no substitute members reported.

You are invited to declare any registerable and/or non-registerable interests in matters appearing on the agenda, and the nature of that interest.

You are also invited to disclose any dispensation in relation to any registerable interests that have been granted to you in respect of any matters appearing on the agenda.

You are also requested to complete the Declarations of Interests card available at the meeting and return it to the Democratic Services Officer before leaving the meeting.

Councillor Joe Kirwin declared a Non-Registerable Personal in Item 5 Heritage & Tourism In North Tyneside, he volunteers for an organisation part funded by the Mouth of Tyne Collective.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 10 October 2023.

The minutes of the meeting of the sub-committee held on 10 October 2023 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To outline the scale and impact of the existing tourism offer in the Borough and how this is supported by the Council’s heritage assets.

A presentation supporting the circulated report was made to the committee by the Senior Manager for Tourism and Events outlining the scale and impact of the existing tourism offer in the Borough.

The committee was asked to note the information provided and invited to give its input to both offers ideas and inform the current development of tourism in the borough.

Members asked about the current situation with DFDS Scandinavian links, and officers confirmed they were aware of interest from overseas to travel to the Port of Tyne but would investigate further on behalf of the Committee and relay the information.

Members stated that while the Riverside and Coastal areas seemed to be well represented within the report, there was a lack of evidence of work being undertaken in the North West. Officers agreed that while there were no large-scale undertakings in the North West, the team were working on this current challenge to create finically viable events in that area. Officers asked members to contact them directly with any suggestions.

Officers highlighted the work done in the Borough with supporting businesses with skills support and recruitment work, especially with the relaunch of the Tynemouth Castle Inn.

A suggestion was made that there should be a free map available in shops in the borough showing tourist assets and transport links. It was stated that transport in the area seemed more focused on work locations rather than tourist spots. Officers hoped that devolution may help provide progress on this issue, but pointed out that to a lack of volume for tourist transport links may be seem like a risk for commercial transport. It is possible that businesses may look for subsidies from the Authority to work in the way that some members may find ideal.

Officers shared that their experience of working with the North East Combined Authority (NECA) regarding potential tourism opportunities had been positive and believed that closer working ties would still see the borough be able to spotlight its own assets.

In reference to discussions about supporting local private business, officers said they do try and repost events where appropriate, share funding opportunity updates and are in regular contact with venues and promoters. There is also the Mouth of Tyne Collective which supports interesting smaller projects in smaller local venues.

A brief discussion took place around Dial Cottage, and its ownership and the lack of a local statue of Robert Stephenson in the area.

Officers stated that they considered that the expanded cycle lanes within the borough could lead to expanding the reputation of the local economy as eco-friendly and as part of existing cycle routes. The Coast-to-Coast cycle route, with its start at Whitehaven, was also discussed and the Committee was strongly in favour of placing a marker at the Tynemouth end to encourage cyclists to make this the informal end of route choice and to enhance the tourism opportunities.

Members asked about plans for Segedunum, and officers assured the committee that it remained a priority and  ...  view the full minutes text for item TS16/23

To consider priorities for inclusion in the work programme for 2023-24.

Suggestions were made by members for inclusion on the Work programme to be discussed by the Committee at a future date:

·         The state of the local economy, and what the Authority was doing in terms of intervention.  

·         Devolution, and what the Authority was doing in terms of preparation and to maximise the benefit for North Tyneside.

It was agreed that a local economy update brief would be scheduled as an item for the March Committee meeting.

6.00pm on 30 January 2024

The Chair wished the members a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and confirmed the next Committee meeting will be held on 30 January 2024 at 6:00pm.