Town Councillors present: C. Barnes, L.E. Dowson, M. Huddleston(Chair), D. Rae, S.E. Rae.

Chair Cllr. Martin Huddleston welcomed representatives from the New Mills Festival Committee and from Spinner Bottom.

Alan Jackson spoke for the Festival Committee. He had been looking back to a superb evening with the Black Dyke Band in the 1998 Festival - in that year there had been 15 events organised, whereas in 2002 there were 35 events. The reason for the increase is the involvement of the community. The Festival organisers now want to push this aspect and are seeking to change the constitution to call the annual events the 'Community Festival', abandoning the description of events as 'art forms' in favour of 'entertainments and activities'. The committee are involving young people by taking the events into schools. A superb music evening for youngsters was attended by 200-300. The Lantern Procession also involves young people, and has become a big success, with around 1300 participants this year - the Festival has become renowned for this event. However, it needs £2000-2500 to put this on, and this year the Festival did not receive an award. Careful publicity and ticket sales over the years had put enough in the kitty to undertake the 2002 Lantern Procession. But accounts are now low. This year's Festival had been very successful, though not financially. The Town Council event also was not a financial success. It was too early in the year for people to attend and for publicity to be effective. With Humphrey Littleton the publicity was started very early. If there is to be a similar headlining event next year, the Festival Committee want to get involved in publicity and ticket sales. They are exceptionally grateful for the provision of the free Town Hall room. The 2003 Festival starts on September 13, when schools will be back. The Committe want to attract groups to stage their own events at this Festival. Mr Jackson thanked the Council for listening.

Chair Martin Huddleston said they are grateful for the efforts of the Festival Committee. The Festival is now established due to their hard work and is a benefit to the town. Regarding a headlining event, a brass band is tried and tested. Alan Jackson noted that Johnny Dankworth and Cleo Laine are doing a 50th anniversary tour in 2003 and would be a good act to book. Janet Allan, of the Festival Committee, said the Town Hall was already booked by someone for the first weekend of the 2003 Festival, but the later date is better to work to than 2 weeks earlier. She would be delighted if the Town Council do an event, and the Committee are also grateful for the Councils putting street flags up, etc. She has also found the Town Hall staff very co-operative. Efforts were made to put on events for children. It was good to be broad-ranging, with diverse cultural events - this year there had been film-shows - one for children and a more unusual film for adults.

Festival Committee treasurer, Philip Kendall, said they had for two years given an event to the schools. A poet had appeared at all the schools from Hayfield, throughout New Mills, to Furness Vale. Sponsorship had been found for this. Schools work with the event. They want to put events into the community as well as putting events on in the community.

Cllr Sheila Rae thought the function of the headline event had been to publicise the Festival, and wondered if this was now needed, as the Lantern Procession promotes the Festival. Instead the Town Council could provide matched funding for this event, or for another event such as a play in the park. Janet Allan described the Lantern Procession as now being a major undertaking. Philip Kendall considered the need to look at its cost - insurance for fireworks and fire sculptures is now significant. They are looking to negotiate one big sponsor for 2003 at least.

Cllr Donald Rae agreed that this year's Town Hall event had been too early, and there had not been enough partnership as there could have been. Janet concurred that it had not had the impact it should have. She showed the Council a flyer sent out to promote the Festival programme. Martin Huddleston asked if the flyer went to the whole town. Janet said it was included with the Courier delivery and goes to Disley, Birch Vale and Hayfield also.

Cllr Chris Barnes noted that at the Little Mill Inn a poster for the Humphrey Littleton concert was displayed 6 weeks in advance. A Town Council event could be a success - the Council need to look at whether to do it. Martin Huddleston said the cost was also a problem, if outgoings are a lot then it ends up being subsidised. Janet said that with a big name a subsidy is inevitable. Cllr Sheila Rae reiterated the need to look again at funding, it could be core funding instead of an event. Alan Jackson said that now the Festival has grown a headline event may not be necessary. Martin said that things move on - the play in the park was at one time a big part of the Festival, but has now gone. Janet remarked that core funding would help with other funding. Martin said they would get the view of the full Council on the funding. Sheila highlighted the need to do this quickly in order to get publicity on hand. Martin considered they need to look also to 2004 for the Main Hall booking.

Chris Barnes thought the programme leaflet to be excellent. Janet said 18,000 copies are distributed. Alan Jackson said it is also given out at events on the prom. Philip Kendall remarked that some people still say 'What Festival?'. Chair Martin Huddleston thanked the Festival Committee for coming and giving feedback.

MORE TO FOLLOW...

Planning Applications

---

At this point the public were asked to leave.