Purpose

To set out a framework, strategy and plan for
a new City Five-Year Event Strategy

Content

1.     
That the strategic aim to use city events
as a place-shaping tool to make the City of Wolverhampton a
‘destination of choice’ for visitors
with the vision that: by 2028, we want
people to think differently about the city... as a place where
things happen, as a place they visit, maybe as a place they might
look to relocate,” be endorsed.

 

2.     
That the five-year operational events growth plan, recommended by
consultants IPW, which would deliver a commercially focused
programme aimed at boosting footfall, increasing economic and
social benefit and transforming the reputation of the city be
endorsed.

3.     
That it be noted that additional investment of
£399,000 is required to underwrite the delivery of this
ambitious strategy. Funding would be considered as part of the
2024-2025 budget-setting process and medium-term financial strategy
(MTFS) planning. Whilst this is
not yet assumed in the working assumptions, work is being
undertaken to determine an optimum funding strategy which may in
the short term utilise appropriate reserves. Wherever possible, the aim will be, as the strategy sets out, to
offset this expenditure through income from commercial events and
external grant-funding as well as indirect benefit to the local
economy.