Issue - meetings

The Great Spas of Europe is a high-level, long term international partnership project.  It involves a trans-national bid to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) seeking to inscribe Bath on the World Heritage list for a second time. If successful, this would this result in Bath being an extremely rare example of a doubly-inscribed World Heritage Site with consequent significant global tourism marketing opportunities. Due to the significance of the bid, Cabinet endorsement is sought prior to the formal submission to UNESCO in January 2019.

Councillor Vic Pritchard left the meeting at this point (5.50pm).

Councillor Rob Appleyard made an ad-hoc statement by saying that Liberal Democrat Group fully endorsed the submission of the Great Spas of Europe nomination to UNESCO.  Councillor Appleyard also said that this was a good piece of work which was supported by a number of previous administrations and which would bring quite a few benefits to Bath.

Councillor Paul Crossley made an ad-hoc statement where he thanked Tony Crouch for his dedicated and hard work on submitting Bath nomination for the Great Spas of Europe.  Councillor Crossley also hoped that UNESCO would agree that Bath deserves to be recognised as one of the Great Spas of Europe.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson made an ad-hoc statement by saying that this was an extremely important report which would give everyone a boost, and which would bring more tourists to Bath.  Councillor Jackson also said that Brexit and fracking may have detrimental impact on future status of Bath.

Councillor Paul Myers introduced the report by thanking all previous Cabinet Members for Economic Development, no matter what party they have belonged to, for their part in supporting and promoting Bath as one of the Great Spas of Europe.  Councillor Myers also said that, if Bath was recognised as one of the Great Spas of Europe it would gain global recognition.

Councillor Paul Myers moved the recommendations.

Councillor Mark Shelford seconded the motion by saying that this was quite important for Bath and surrounding areas, and thanked Councillor Myers for his contribution.

RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Cabinet agreed endorse the submission of the Great Spas of Europe nomination to UNESCO.