Disappointment as Morecambe Town Council chooses not to help fund festivals in 2021

At a virtual online meeting on Thursday September 3, town councillors voted on allocating its £189,594 budget to various activities up to March 2021.

The town council now has a new interim clerk - Luke Trevaskis - following the resignation of the previous clerk Bob Bailey in July.The council has been mired by a spate of resignations in the past 12 months – including two Town Clerks - amid allegations by opposition councillors that some financial dealings by the leading Morecambe Bay Independent (MBI) group had not been properly authorised by the full council.

A new lengthsman (£23,556), enforcement officer (£23,556), grant fund (£35,000), open space equipment (£15,000), an outdoor gym project (£12,000), and an alley champions project (£5,000) were all allocated funding as part of the latest budget.

But a funding pot where festival organisers can apply for cash to organise events in the town over the summer months, was not part of the budget for the second year in a row.

John O'Neill, manager of the Morecambe Business Improvement District (BID) said: "Considering Morecambe has regained a reputation for having a festival season during summer, it's a great pity to see that, for the second year running, there seems to be no Morecambe Town Council support again.

"Last year Morecambe BID had a team of Lancaster University Management School students survey the town's businesses and festivals stood out as being extremely important for the town.

"Morecambe BID has been running the 'Simple Pleasures' marketing campaign across the North, extolling the virtues of the area to visitors over the medium to long term so it's a big disappointment that our push is not being supported.

"Also, I am not sure what message it is sending when the Eden North project is progressing in the background.

"Festival organisers need a lot of time to put their preparations in place, and usually this time of year is when financial support applications are considered by the Town Council's Festivals Committee.

"Considering there's no budget, and no committee, it doesn't take a lot to add two and two together."

Ivan Harrison, who organises the town's annual Nice N' Sleazy punk festival, has received around £3,000 to help organise the festival in the past.

He said: "It takes 18 months to plan our festival, and although £3,000 is not a huge amount of money, it was a big help.

"We'll still do it, but it's going to be difficult, especially under the Covid-19 circumstances.

"It's going to be extra hard next year."

Brendan Hughes, a BID Director, also added: "The diversion of funds from festivals to fund a PCSO, although honourable, is not adding value.

"No control is given over the tasking of the PCSOs to funders, and is an example of the tax payer paying twice for the same service."

The full list of funding allocation for Morecambe Town Council is here:

Salaries + Staff Expenses £32,542

Office Equipment / Consumables £1,500

Administration / Legal Costs £1,500

Office Rent £4,000

Local Council Award Scheme £500

Insurance £500

Audit £3,838

Lengthsman £23,556

Enforcement Officer £23,556

Training £1,000

Communications £2,500

Litter Campaign £3,000

Grant Fund £35,000

Community Engagement £10,000

Open Space Equipment £15,000

Alley Champions Project £5,000

Parks / Open Spaces Assets £5,000

Green Corridor £5,000

Arts Projects £5,000

Morecambe in Bloom £5,000

Outdoor Gym Project £12,000

CCTV £10,000

Neighbourhood Plan £5,000

General Reserves £73,883

Promenade Lighting Reserve £10,000

Further details about the projects:

Communications

Whilst the Council has attracted some press coverage in recent months, there does not appear to be many positive news stories featuring the projects and positive actions being taken by the authority. This sum will help promote the activities of the Council across platforms such as social media, radio, e-blasts, press outlets, text messages and marketing platforms.

Litter Campaign

In a meeting of the Council held on 6 August 2020, it was resolved to incur expenditure of this amount to procure posters, litter pickers, hi vis jackets and leaflets to assist in tackling litter. Decisions regarding this sum were delegated to the Proper Officer (in consultation with a member)

Grant Fund

It is understood, in light of Covid-19, and other depravation indicators, that Morecambe would benefit from the continuation of a grant fund.

Community Engagement

A proposal for a committee to generate project ideas for the Council has been suggested. As a precursor to this, it is important for the Council to gather a strong and reliable source of evidence in which to assist it to move on motions that are in the best interest of the community. This budget line has been created to enable research to be undertaken into what residents and tourists believe 11 should be improved in the area, and this sum gives rise to any expenditure that may be incurred in gathering this evidence base, such as door-to-door surveys, engagement with local groups and stakeholders, consideration of a youth council, multi-demographic focus groups, and/or surveys in the public realm to establish the needs of each ward.

Open Space Equipment

Concerns have been raised at the level of litter and weeds in Morecambe. This sum enables the Council to purchase a machine (such as a Glutton industrial vacuum cleaner) to assist in tackling these issues.

Alley Champions Project

This sum is to take into account any expenditure associated with tidying up alleys. More promotion of this initiative is needed and the Council may wish to consider how to engage the community in this scheme by launching a competition to adopt a back alley, whereby residents can nominate their alley to be adopted by the Council and there can be alley guardians to continue to maintain the adopted alley once it has been transformed.

Parks / Open Spaces Assets

It is understood that a number of members would like to se more ownership of parks and open spaces. Suggestions have been put forward to install further benches (with one thanking the local front line workers who have helped to tackle Covid-19), picnic tables, bins (with some possibly sculpted in the shape of a fish to encourage recycling), facilities for pets such as a pet-friendly agility course, and equipment that will engage young people such as outdoor table-tennis tables.

Green Corridor

It is understood that historic photographs of Morecambe exhibit an abundance of trees and some areas have become more barren in recent years. A green corridor can help to offset the carbon footprint of the Council, whilst improving the tree canopy across Morecambe to encourage more wildlife and enhance the street scene.

Arts Projects

In order to generate interest in open spaces and brighten up some areas of the community that may be tired, this sum will enable artists to be commissioned to create artwork on neglected spaces that can serve as both a local focal point and tourism attraction. This budget line could also be used to engage young people in the community to participate in the arts through educational activities such as graffiti workshops which could take place in a park using large MDF boards or canvasses - helping to nurture talent and generate identity and confidence in young people.

Morecambe in Bloom

It is considered that Morecambe in Bloom has been quite animating for the Council in recent years. This sum aims to build on that positive contribution to help towards increasing tourism and improving the wellbeing of residents.

Outdoor Gym Project

It is considered that there may be suitable locations (such as along the promenade) for some outdoor gym equipment to be installed.

CCTV

It is estimated that this sum would be required for a single installation in an area of choice to assist in tackling fly tipping and anti social behaviour.

Neighbourhood Plan

This sum is to cover any costs that may arise in relation to the Neighbourhood Plan.

General Reserves

This sum has been set at approximately 25% of annual expenditure - in line with the recommended typical minimum level of general reserves an authority should hold as advised in NALC’s ‘The Good Councillor’s Guide to Finance and Transparency’.

Promenade Lighting Reserve

This sum has been set as an earmarked reserve. In addition to general reserves, the Council may have earmarked reserves for specific projects, where money is allocated for a specific purpose but may not be spent in that financial year. Whilst a project to illuminate the promenade (from Battery car park to The Midland Hotel) may require substantial investment, with a multi-agency approach, this reserve is to show a willingness to work with other stakeholders and set an objective for Morecambe Town Council to work towards. This earmarked reserve can continue to be increased each year until the Council is in a position to deliver this project with third parties (either in part or in its entirety).