Issue - meetings

Approve the Advertising, Sponsorship and Donations Policy as shown at Appendix A.

The Executive Member for Financial Sustainability presented the Advertising and Sponsorship Policy. He said that due to the decline in government funding, the council needed to maximise its income on its assets through sponsorship. He said that the opening of BEAM was an opportunity to earn extra income and the framework presented in the report was to ensure consistency and to protect the reputation of the council.

Councillor Brittain proposed that the recommendations in the report be supported. Councillor Wilson seconded the proposal.

Councillor Wilson referred to paragraph 5.1 and the exemption list. He asked if this list could be added to.

Councillor Brittain said the council would review the exemption list annually.

Councillor Jacobs asked if vaping could be included in the exemption list.

Councillor Brittain said this was an interesting point and would take away to look at.

Councillor Thomas asked if this policy would extend to covering sports and leisure centres as currently SLM were allowing advertisements from sports gambling companies on their digital advert boards.

The Head of Strategic Finance and Property said that the leisure centres were leased buildings and so the council did not have any control over their advertising.

The Head of Operations said that the commercial contract with SLM generates income for the council and gives the leisure operator flexibility on how to generate that income.

Councillor Thomas said that was concerning because the East Herts Council logo sits next to adverts for gambling companies.

The Head of Operations said she was happy to take the conversation back to the leisure providers.

The motion to support the recommendation having been proposed and seconded was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – That the Advertising, Sponsorship and Donations Policy as shown at Appendix A be approved.