Agenda item

To consider the Visitor Economy Briefing Note and its impact on the commencement of the Visitor Economy Task Group (Briefing Note of the Assistant Director – Economic Growth enclosed).

Consideration was given to the briefing note of the Assistant Director – Economic Growth and its impact on the commencement of the Visitor Economy Task Group.

The Chairman introduced the item by asking members to consider whether the approach suggested within the briefing note negated the requirement for the commencement of the South Holland Visitor Economy Task Group, which members agreed to set up at the 22 May 2024 Performance Monitoring Panel meeting.

The Assistant Director – Economic Growth introduced the briefing note which outlined the benefits to South Holland of having a Destination Management Plan (DMP), and the following main points were highlighted:

• That work had recently been undertaken to produce an overarching visitor economy strategy (DMP) for Greater Lincolnshire and the S&ELCP;
• This work had culminated in the production of a Greater Lincolnshire Destination Management Plan and a ‘place-based’ S&ELCP Destination Management Plan which would be presented to the Policy Development Panel at an upcoming meeting;
• The DMPs aimed to bring stakeholder organisations together (such as councils, businesses and communities) to ensure that the visitor economy was attractive and resilient for the future;
• Funding secured by the destination management organisation ‘Destination Lincolnshire’ ensured that focus work could take place at South Holland with a clear action plan for the district. South Holland would be supported in the same way as other areas in Lincolnshire including research into the visitor economy, engagement with businesses and development and promotion of the area; and
• The benefits of the DMP for the district linked with other developments including the new Cultural Strategy and the Heritage Strategy for Spalding.

Members considered the update and made the following comments:

• Members stated that the Task Group was initiated to look into the visitor economy in the whole of South Holland. Each ward had specific history and a timeline of detailed action for the South Holland district was called for. Members wished to avoid the duplication of work but also needed to be convinced that the DMP would enable focus at a ‘place-based’ level.
  • The Assistant Director – Economic Growth confirmed that a piece of work had been undertaken for the whole of South Holland area. Visitor research had identified the strengths and challenges which were absolutely specific to South Holland;
  • The plan would incorporate an overarching vision but with a place-based action plan for each area with tangible outputs; and
  • Visitors would also be attracted to the area through the art and culture work funded through Arts Council England.

• Members agreed that commencement of the Visitor Economy Task Group, agreed at the 22 May 2024 Performance Monitoring Panel meeting, be paused, pending the outcome of the report being presented to Policy Development Panel members. The task group could commence in the future if members deemed this to be necessary.

AGREED:

a)    That the contents of the briefing note be noted; and

b)    That the commencement of the Performance Monitoring Panel Visitor Economy Task Group be paused, and that the task group be reinstated if deemed necessary by members, be noted.