THURSDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 2006 at 7.00 pm in the Council Chamber, The Guildhall, Barnstaple.

PRESENT:                                      Councillor Miss C Upcott (Chairman)

Councillors: Mrs J Preston, J Preston, S P Upcott, Mrs V Elkins, C C Haywood, Mrs S Haywood (Mayor) and Mrs J Hunt

Also in attendance:  The Town Clerk, Mrs A Jenkins, The Heritage Centre Commercial Manager, Miss Denise Teague, The Heritage Centre Creative Manager, Mrs Julie Parker, and the Corporate Services Manager, Mrs Claire Parsons

HC31                   APOLOGIES

Apologies, as recorded on the attendance sheet, were received from Councillors Wilsher, Windsor and Phillips.

HC32                   DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

The following Declarations of Interest had been entered on the reverse of the attendance sheet.

Councillor Mrs J Preston - Item No. 4 - Prejudicial - as she is a volunteer at the Heritage Centre.

Councillor J Preston - Item No. 4 - Prejudicial - as he is related to volunteer at the Heritage Centre.

Councillor Mrs V Elkins - Item No. 4 - Prejudicial -  as she is a volunteer at the Heritage Centre.

HC33                   MINUTES

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2006 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

                                                                                      (4.4abs)

Councillors Preston, Mrs Preston and Mrs Elkins left the meeting at this point.

HC34                   HERITAGE CENTRE VOLUNTEER CHRISTMAS LUNCH

The Commercial Manager up-dated the Committee on the arrangements for the Heritage Centre Volunteer Christmas Lunch.  The lunch had been booked for Monday, 18 December at the Imperial Hotel for 1.00 pm and there would be 17 volunteers and staff attending.

Councillors Preston, Mrs Preston and Mrs Elkins returned to the meeting.  

HC35                   HERITAGE CENTRE OPENING : 23 DECEMBER 2006

The Committee discussed the opening times for Saturday, 23 December 2006.

RESOLVED That: the Heritage Centre be open on Saturday, 23 December 2006 until 3.00 pm at the latest, depending on how busy the Centre is at this time.  The overall decision for closure will be left to the discretion of the Commercial Manager.

                                                                                                (NC)

HC36                   COMMERCIAL AND ADVERTISING REPORT

The Committee received a copy of the Commercial Manager's report prior to the meeting.

The Commercial Manager reported that the Heritage Centre would be having a stall in Barnstaple Pannier Market on Friday, 17 November, and every Tuesday throughout November and December starting from Tuesday, 14 November.  The table would be selling items from the gift shop, and this opportunity would be taken to distribute Heritage Centre leaflets and to promote the Christmas exhibition.

A Heritage Centre leaflet, which has been specially designed and printed by the Creative Manager, had been inserted in the October issue of the North Devon Marketing Bureau monthly newsletter.  This newsletter is distributed to all North Devon Marketing Bureau members throughout the region, and the inclusion of a Heritage Centre leaflet would bring some useful free publicity for the Centre.

The Heritage Centre Christmas advertising campaign with Lantern FM was to begin broadcasting on 6 November, with the Christmas exhibition advert starting on 20 November.  From then on, both adverts would alternate until the end of the campaign on 21 December.

The Commercial Manager also reported that on October 12, Radio Devon broadcast live from Barnstaple.  The Commercial Manager was one of those interviewed to talk about the Heritage Centre.  Before the interviews John Coates visited the Centre and suggested that he broadcast from the Centre once the Christmas exhibition was open.  He was extremely impressed by the Centre.

The Radio Devon would be visiting the Heritage Centre on 21 November to record interviews and sounds, and this would be broadcast in the afternoon of the same day.

The Commercial Manager reported that unfortunately Maureen Wood's book "Pannier to Shambles - The story of Barnstaple Market" had still not been printed.  It was hoped that the book would be printed in time for Christmas.

The Town Clerk reiterated the situation in respect of the book to the Committee.  There was no legal contract between the publishers and the Town Council, as it has been a private arrangement between Mrs Wood and the publishers.  The Town Council had only agreed to pay the publishing costs.

RESOLVED: That a letter be sent to the publishers asking if they would be accommodating in getting the book published in time for Christmas.

                                                                                      (7.1abs)

HC37                   STATISTICAL REPORTS FOR EXHIBITION AND SHOP

The regular statistical reports for the exhibition and shop, together with previous year's figures for comparison were submitted to the Committee prior to the meeting.

RESOLVED: That the reports be noted.

                                                                                      (NC)

HC38                   SALE OF 17TH CENTURY MANUSCRIPT

The Commercial Manager reported that she had been approached by rogercollicottbooks.com about the possible purchase of a 17th Century manuscript for £350.  After discussion, it was

RESOLVED that the Commercial Manager ask rogercollicottbooks.com if they would consider sending the manuscript on approval for the committee to view, and for a decision to be made as to whether it was a worthwhile investment after this time.

                                                                                                (NC)

HC39                   HERITAGE CENTRE BUDGET 2007/2008

The final committee budget for 2007/2008 was submitted to the Committee.

 RESOLVED: That the budget for 2007/2008 be approved.

(NC)

HC40                   REPORT BY THE TOWN CLERK

The Town Clerk reported that the positive marketing strategy of the Heritage Centre for the Christmas exhibition was due to the hard work and efforts of the Commercial and Creative Managers, for which they must be credited.

The Town Clerk also reported of a recent meeting with Cullumpton Press, who were keen to produce marketing leaflets promoting the Heritage Centre.  Cullumpton Press were keen to get the business of the Heritage Centre and with the publication of these leaflets offered increased marketing and distribution. 

The Town Clerk reported on the re-branded gift shop, and that the shop at the Heritage Centre would now be marketed under the name "Queen Anne's Gifts"  The new stock in the shop was of a wide ranging variety, and in particular the childrens gifts being very good.  The figures showed that the Heritage Centre had made significant progress during the year and that with the continued marketing and advertising the shop had the potential to be run as separate business under the Centre banner.

RESOLVED: That the Town Clerk's report be noted.

                                                                                                (NC)

HC41         PART II - MATTERS TO BE TAKEN IN THE ABSENCE OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

The Chairman proposed, and it was unanimously agreed, that the following item be taken in the absence of Press and Public as the item contained exempt information as defined by the Local Government Act 1972 Sch 12a Part 1 (3)

                                                                                                (NC)

HC42                   FUTURE OF ST ANNE'S CHAPEL

The Town Clerk reported to Committee Members on a recent meeting in respect of the future of St Anne's Chapel, and its usage.  The Town Clerk told committee members that the Council were aware that there was always going to be access problems, however the opportunities afforded from proper use of the Chapel greatly outweighed access problems.

An approach had been made to the Town Council for a pre-tender, pre-budget costings to be made available to the Council,  on what was required for St Anne's Chapel building to be made into a safe and sound condition, in order that it may be considered worth using in the future on a permanent basis.

RESOLVED; That the report be received and the Town Clerk make further investigations for the costings to be undertaken.

CHAIRMAN

The meeting ended at 8.15 pm