Agenda item

To receive an overview of Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited from Michael Williams, Managing Director.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.)

(The press and public were excluded prior to the consideration of exempt information in this item as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act).

The Advisory Board discussed the progress of the development of the Conference Centre at the Winter Gardens in detail noting that the building work had started. Mr Williams, Managing Director, Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited (BECL) highlighted that there had been a number of delays to the work.  It was noted that a meeting would be held in the week commencing 21 May 2018 between the Council, Company, Architect and Contractor in order to set a target date for completion of the building works.

Members considered that the building work was only one aspect of concern with regards to the Conference Centre and also discussed the marketing of the Centre in detail.

In response to questions, Mr Williams advised that he was confident the Centre would open in 2019 and that BECL was working jointly with Visit Blackpool to promote the Centre and the general Blackpool offer. It was noted that organisations set dates for conferences a number of years in advance and therefore the Centre must be advertised before it was completed in order to attract future business.

Members noted the importance of having high quality hotels and restaurants in order to attract large conferences and noted the new developments including the proposed on-site conference hotel. Mr Williams advised that BECL would work with hotels in order to provide offers to conference attendees.

Mr Antony Lockley, Director of Strategy and Assistant Chief Executive highlighted the achievement of winning the Government funding for the Conference Centre and the speed in which the building work had commenced. He advised that some delays to building work had been anticipated and that focus must turn to how to approach the marketing of the Centre. Members requested that a full presentation be provided by BECL to a future meeting demonstrating how the Centre would be marketed.

Mr Williams provided an overview of the work of the Company to the Advisory Board. He highlighted the history of the Winter Gardens and noted the recent expansion of the Company to include the running of ‘The Hop’ Public House and two ‘Tower Coffee Company’ coffee shops.

It was noted that the Winter Gardens hosted a number of external events and also hosted its own events including the Blackpool Dance Festival, which had grown to a large, 13 day, international dance event.

Mr Williams outlined the management team of the company and advised that BECL employed 140 full time, whole year members of staff. He added that the vision of the Company was to operate a year round, world class venue that was accessible to residents and visitors and that the mission of the Company was to increase visitor numbers to the resort, create a positive experience for clients and to deliver an agreed financial return.

The Advisory Board was informed that the Company faced a number of key challenges including reviewing the operation of the Tower Coffee Company, the establishment of the Conference Centre, the lack of quality entertainment product and the high maintenance costs of the Grade 2 listed building.

Councillor Cross, Chair of BECL advised that she had been recently appointed to the Company Board. She reported that a Business Planning meeting had been held and key performance indicators for the company would be developed. She also reported that a skills audit would be undertaken of all non-Executive Directors in order to identify any gaps so that new appointments could be sought to fill the gaps.

Mr Williams presented the key financial data to the Advisory Board. Members considered that they required further information relating to Corporation Tax and requested that Mr Steve Thompson, Director of Resources be invited to a future meeting of the Advisory Board to provide detailed information on the subject.

Members went on to consider the key performance indicator data. Mrs Ruth Henshaw, Delivery Development Officer highlighted that a number of figures were provisional and that the collection of some data and the methodology required further consideration, in particular, how the footfall of visitors to the Winter Gardens was calculated. Members also requested clarification of the number of people surveyed by Infusion to provide data for some of the indicators.

It was noted that the performance indicator information would be updated and resubmitted to the next meeting of the Advisory Board alongside targets agreed with the Company.

The Advisory Board agreed:

1. To receive a presentation by BECL on the marketing of the Conference Centre to a future meeting.

2. To receive information from Mr Steve Thompson, Director of Resources relating to Corporation Tax at a future meeting.