Issue - meetings

This report seeks the approval from the Committee of the final draft of the Creative Vision for Bognor Regis.  This is an Arts Council, England funded project.

Consultation with local partners and public exhibitions were held to seek the views of residents.

The aim of this project is not only to set a new vision for Bognor Regis but to facilitate partners in working together to boost the creative industries.     

            The Chair invited the Economic Development Projects Officer to present his report to the Committee which was proposing a final draft of the Creative Vision for Bognor Regis for approval. It was explained that the Creative Vision project had been funded successfully via grant in the sum of £10k from the Arts Council for England.

In providing some further background, the Economic Development Projects Officer outlined that consultation had taken place with local partners, residents and Councillors using public exhibitions and meetings to obtain views in terms of how the Creative Vision should be built and developed. The Economy Committee at its meeting held on 5 October 2023 had approved the commissioning of a Creative Vision for Bognor Regis.

           Before inviting members to debate the item, the Chair requested members to propose and second the officer recommendation as detailed in the report. The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Stanley and seconded by Councillor Woodman.

          The Chair then invited debate. The Committee in welcoming the report stated that it was pleasing to see a project that had successfully developed to its final stages and reached the approval stage. From a Bognor Regis perspective, it was important to achieve this level of diversification in the economy, the creative digital side of the town was something that could be of benefit in developing this vision. A question was asked  regarding the stakeholder group as many of the positions and names listed had changed. Councillors were interested to learn what the plan was to manage this moving forward and as some key stakeholders were felt to be missing from the group listings such as Butlins and the Picturedrome Cinema, especially as both had been active in setting up and driving the consultation exercises forward. In response, it was explained that some of the personnel listed in the stakeholder group had either left their positions or changed job titles. The list set out in the report was accurate and represented the stakeholder group in place at that time in the development phase of the project. Reassurance was provided that the group would be refreshed to reflect the current position and in developing the next stages.

Further questions were asked around timelines and stakeholder group numbers which had reduced from 46 at the early stages of the project to the ten set out within the report and the Group confirmed as part of the Vision.  It was explained that 46 stakeholders had been engaged through the process and as part of the development of the vision and that this process did involve engaging with a significant number of commercial and educational community based groups in and around Bognor Regis. As the vision developed it was necessary to keep it as a vision that all could sign up to so that when there were bigger projects such as Alexandra Theatre and the new hotel coming forward, the Vision could be used and recognised as a platform that all could sign up to. 

          In view of some technical  ...  view the full minutes text for item 467