1.  That the Council’s objectives in funding and organizing events be agreed as follows:

·  Support the achievement of the council’s strategic priorities

·  Increase visitor expenditure during the period of the event to boost the town’s economy.

·  Raise the profile of Maidstone as a visitor destination to encourage residents and non residents who may not have considered Maidstone as a place to visit.

·  Add to the cultural and community sense of identity and cohesion of the Borough and its residents.

2.  That the new Visitor Economy Business Unit’s Service Plan includes an objective to develop a comprehensive, collaborative approach to event planning, resourcing and management with Local Strategic Partnership partners across the public, private, voluntary, community and faith sectors to maximise participation, pool resources and create an annual Festival programme for 2012 onwards.

3.  That St Georges Day be supported as a civic event, celebrated by the parade organised by the Scouts, culminating in the services at All Saints Church and the funding for other activities previously held on St Georges Day be transferred to support the River Festival and the Maidstone Mela.

4.  That the River Festival and Maidstone Mela be allocated budgets of £10,000 and £16,000 respectively, with £11,000 transferred from the uncommitted Arts Development Budget and £15,000 transferred from the uncommitted funding for St Georges Day.

5.  That Town Centre Management (TCM) be asked to work with town centre businesses to identify interest, resources, including in kind support, to help manage and implement events in the town as part of the council’s service level agreement with TCM.

6.  That the development of the Maidstone Mela as a Local Strategic Partnership event be progressed during 2011/12 to reduce the council’s contribution and maximise participation, to include proposals to extend Mela related activities into the Town Centre and to quantify the impact on the borough’s economy.

7.  That the proposals for the provision of Christmas Lights set out in paragraph 3.30 of the report of the Assistant Director of Regeneration and Culture be explored and a further report be brought to me recommending the most cost effective options to be implemented.