- The Economic Development Minister has pledged to continue sponsoring two of Jersey’s largest community events
- Senator Lyndon Farnham says that Battle of Flowers and Air Display are very important
- Economic Development provide grants of £240,000 for both events
- Should the States sponsor the Battle of Flowers and the Air Display? Take our poll below
ECONOMIC Development will continue to provide sponsorship towards the Battle of Flowers and the International Air Display for the foreseeable future, Senator Lyndon Farnham has pledged.
Speaking during a recent Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel hearing, the Economic Development Minister said that ‘barring unforeseen circumstances’ he was committed to providing grants for the two key events in the Island’s calendar during his term of office.
Last year, Economic Development provided grants of £130,000 towards the Battle of Flowers and £110,000 towards the cost of the air display.
‘For what we put in, we get tremendous benefit – there is huge community benefit,’ said Senator Farnham.
However, asked whether he had seen the accounts for last year’s Battle of Flowers, the minister said ‘not yet’ and that they were ‘a bit late’.
Economic Development’s chief officer, Mike King, said that the budget for the air display had been transferred to Ports of Jersey, who would be working with the organisers to put on the event.
‘We do ensure compliance with financial directions and to see the accounts within six months, and if we are not satisfied, we would not be able to recommend a grant for the year,’ Mr King said.
Senator Farnham insisted nonetheless that his intention was to increase the level of funding for the two key events in the tourism calendar. ‘They are immensely important – the Battle of Flowers is over a hundred years old,’ he said. ‘I think it is absolutely tremendous, when I look at some of the other things the States spend money on.’
The minister also said that he was considering a new ‘events body’ that would work with Visit Jersey and provide logistical support and facilities for event-led tourism.
‘I would like to see us developing a year-round events-led calendar,’ said the minister.
Speaking to the JEP after the hearing, Senator Farnham said that major events held outside of the peak summer season would help to increase productivity – one of the key aims of the States Strategic Plan.
‘Tourism and hospitality have capacity most of the year, so a lot of their costs are fixed during the winter time. If we can get more business in then, we can do more without increasing costs, because the resources are already there.’
Referring to the forthcoming Island Games, he said that the investment in resources put in place for the games should continue to be used not only for sport, but also cultural, heritage, business, conference and tourism events. ‘It’s really about picking up where the Island Games leaves off. We have invested a lot of money and resources and we want to make sure that continues.’
Asked about the need to cut costs across the public sector, he said that the department had a ‘big job to do’ in terms of the Medium Term Financial Plan, but that he was confident that the money could be found. ‘The Battle is part of our culture and heritage, over and above the benefit to the visitor economy, and the air display is an internationally recognised event second only to those in the UK. It would not be advisable to cut funding in those areas.
‘I do not see that as a cost – I see it as a return,’ he added.
A RADICAL overhaul of Jersey’s Battle of Flowers is urgently needed to save the ‘dwindling’ festival, a damning independent report commissioned by the Economic Development Department has said.
The document, which cost more than £5,000 to produce, says that dramatic changes such as re-routing the parade through the centre of St Helier and moving it to earlier in the summer must be considered.
Criticisms listed in the report include:
- The appointment of former X Factor contestant Ray Quinn as last years Mr Battle, which it said added little value to the parade.
- Exhibitors having a reputation for being incredibly demanding and resistant to change.
- No family ticket option, so a couple with a child aged 12 or over could pay up to £68 to see the two-hour show.
- There is a poor relationship between the exhibitors and the festivals organisers, and specifically with Battle of Flowers Association chairman Tony Perkins.
The report, which was written by events expert Sarah Felton, advises the States to give serious consideration to the cost benefits of their £130,000 annual subsidy to Battle.
Economic Development Minister Lyndon Farnham, former chairman of the Battle of Flowers Association, told the JEP that he wanted to assure people that funding for the event would not be cut.
While assembling the report, Mrs Felton spoke to numerous Islanders associated with the parade, including Constables, one of which – who remained anonymous – described the event as ‘dwindling’.
The report said that for the Battle to be successful in the future it needed to move away from its tourism categorisation and focus on being a community-based event, as it no longer attracted tourists in the way it used to.
Some of the suggestions to modernise the Battle included re-routing it through St Helier, holding it earlier in the summer and staging a ticketed static display in the People’s Park.
SPEAKING to the Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel, Senator Lyndon Farnham said that he was committed to supporting the Battle of Flowers and would consider increasing its grant. Last year, event organisers were given £130,000 of public money.
There is no doubt that the Battle is still one of the biggest events in the Island’s annual calendar and a highlight for some visitors who are in Jersey during the second week in August.
With tourism a major part of his ministerial portfolio, it should come as no surprise that Senator Farnham, who describes himself as a proud champion of rebuilding the industry, should back the Battle.
But has he not forgotten something? And did the Scrutiny panel chaired by Deputy Simon Brée not miss an opportunity to question the Economic Development Minister about an issue which hit the headlines just a few weeks ago?
Worryingly, the answer to both questions seems to be ‘yes’.
On 15 April, Economic Development published a report which it had commissioned to assess the way the Battle of Flowers was run. The report, written by Sarah Felton, contained scathing criticism of the event and advised the department to carry out a cost/benefit analysis to ensure that taxpayers were getting value for money from the £130,000 grant.
She also recommended a new ticketing policy to make the event more affordable for families and that the parade be rerouted through town. It was hardly a glowing bill of health.
Very few could disagree with these sensible recommendations or with her conclusion that both organisers and exhibitors have historically been culturally opposed to change.
So why was the Felton report not raised during the Scrutiny hearing?
Taxpayers must have reassurance that large grants are not handed over unconditionally.
Has the minister demanded changes which could engage a new audience with one of Jersey’s most established events? Is he satisfied that the benefit is in line with the cost?
The minister was absolutely right to commission a report, but it must not be allowed to gather dust on a shelf.
And those charged with holding ministers to account need to remember on whose behalf they are paid to ask questions.
