Agenda item

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Burns)

 

Report of the Head of Democratic Services.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Burns)

 

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report advising Cabinet of options for marking the centenary of the opening of Lancaster Town Hall in 1909.

 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment, were set out in the report as follows:

 

Officers in Cultural Services, Democratic Services, Economic Development and Tourism and Property Services have worked together to develop the following options which can be delivered within existing resources as indicated:

 

Town Hall Tours

 

It is suggested that a series of enhanced tours of the Town Hall are arranged as part of the Heritage Open Day Tours on 12^th/13^th September and over the weekend of 25^th/26^th/27^th September 2009 to coincide with the Lancaster Unlocked promotion being organised by the Heritage Group where events at museums and places of interest in the town are specially marketed and promoted for a particular weekend.

 

The intention is to widen the scope of the tours of this weekend to introduce an historical interpretation using an actor to play the role of Lord Ashton who will lead the tours as if he is showing members of the public around his new building, culminating in refreshments in the Mayors Parlour with the Mayor.  A second actor playing the role of Mr Belcher, the Ashton Memorial Architect could also be used to tie in the celebration of 100 years of the Ashton Memorial in Williamson Park.

 

Charges are made for Town Hall Tours which cover the cost of opening the building.  Funding for the additional costs of hiring a ‘Lord Ashton’ would need to be identified and refreshments could be provided from the Mayoral Functions budget.  Savings can be made on events within the Civic programme to provide additional funding for this purpose, eg. reductions in numbers invited to the Annual Council Mayor Making Lunch.

 

Guided Walks

 

A local blue badge guide could also be employed to lead Edwardian Lancaster (or  'Lord Ashton’s Lancaster') themed guided walks on at least some of the Heritage open days & Lancaster Unlocked days referred to above.

 

Funding for the cost of these would also need to be identified.

 

Mayoral At Homes

 

The Mayoral At Homes event have previously taken place in May each year.  However this year they have been moved for the first time and are due to be held in March 2009.  If during 2009/10, these are held in January 2010 instead the At Home in Lancaster can be promoted to the public as replicating the open days held in January 1910 and a similar acted scenario using a Lord Ashton and Mr Belcher could be included.

 

Funding for the additional costs of staging the scenario would need to be identified.  There would be no additional costs for refreshments other than those budgeted for on an annual basis.

 

Lancaster Fireworks Festival

 

It is suggested that the Fireworks in November 2009 be arranged around an Edwardian Theme, both during the day and in respect of the music in the evening.

 

Subject to approval of the proposed Festival programme, funding for this is included in the Cultural Services budget – there would be no additional costs.

 

Community Festival – Williamson Park

 

Subject to further approval of the 2009/10 budget process, a sum of £7,500 is provisionally allocated for holding events in the Park.  This could be used to hold an Edwardian themed Fair in the Park, possibly alongside the Community Festival held for the past few years in which the Council participated for the first time in 2008.  This would enable the public to look at Lancaster as it was 100 years ago alongside the Lancaster of today.

 

Community Leaders Event/Choral Concert

 

If funding can be identified, a community event could be organised in the Ashton Hall during December to be hosted by the Mayor.   The Lancaster and District Male Voice Choir are interested in performing a concert with the support of Leyland Brass Band who are willing to provide the music for them.  This choir performed a concert in the Ashton Hall 100 years ago and were the first public performance in the room.  This could be arranged as a separate concert or as part of a Community Leaders Event.

 

Interest has also been expressed by the NCBI in Lancaster who have recently done a new Welcome poster for the Town Hall steps and it is suggested that the promotion of this could be timed and themed to mark the centenary.

 

Costs of organising a Community Leaders Event could be met from the as yet unallocated 2008/09 Area Based Grant Reserve for Community Cohesion.  A separate concert would need to be a ticketed event and self financing.

 

Cabinet are requested to consider whether they wish to pursue any or all of the above options.  Alternatively Cabinet may agree not to make any arrangements to mark the centenary of Lancaster Town Hall or the Ashton Memorial.

 

 There is no Officer preferred option.

 

It was moved by Councillor Barry and seconded by Councillor Fletcher:-

 

“(1)      That Cabinet approves the Mayoral ‘at homes’; Lancaster Firework Festival and Choral Concert in Ashton Hall to mark the centenary of the opening of Lancaster Town Hall.”

 

By way of amendment, which was accepted as a friendly amendment by the mover and seconder of the original proposition, Councillor Mace proposed and Councillor Charles seconded:

 

“That in order to mark the centenary of Lancaster Town Hall and the Ashton Memorial, arrangements be made for the following:

 

(1)               The Lancaster Fireworks Festival in November 2009 to be arranged around an Edwardian Theme, both during the day and in respect of the music in the evening, subject to the approval of the proposed Festival programme as part of the 2009/10 budget process

 

(2)               A Choral Concert in the Ashton Hall

 

(3)               That the Mayor for 2009/10 be requested to hold Mayoral ‘at homes’ in January 2010 to enable promotion of the Lancaster ‘at homes’ as replicating the open days held in January 1910 at no additional cost beyond that contained within the existing budget

 

(4)               The Mayor for 2009/10 be requested to consider holding the following events at a suitable time and appropriately themed to mark the celebration:

 

(a)   Visit of Lancashire Civic Heads, subject to any decision on the funding of the 2009/10 civic programme as part of the budget process

 

(b) A Mayor’s Ball/Charity Dinner.”

 

Members then voted as follows:-

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

That in order to mark the centenary of Lancaster Town Hall and the Ashton Memorial, arrangements be made for the following:

 

(1)               The Lancaster Fireworks Festival in November 2009 to be arranged around an Edwardian Theme, both during the day and in respect of the music in the evening, subject to the approval of the proposed Festival programme as part of the 2009/10 budget process

 

(2)               A Choral Concert in the Ashton Hall

 

(3)               That the Mayor for 2009/10 be requested to hold Mayoral ‘at homes’ in January 2010 to enable promotion of the Lancaster ‘at homes’ as replicating the open days held in January 1910 at no additional cost beyond that contained within the existing budget

 

(4)               The Mayor for 2009/10 be requested to consider holding the following events at a suitable time and appropriately themed to mark the celebration:

 

(b)   Visit of Lancashire Civic Heads, subject to any decision on the funding of the 2009/10 civic programme as part of the budget process

 

(b) A Mayor’s Ball/Charity Dinner.

 

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Chief Executive

Head of Democratic Services

 

Reason for making the decision:

 

The decision allows for a programme of events to mark the 100^th anniversary of  Lancaster Town Hall and the Ashton Memorial, within existing resources.