Further supplementary memorandum submitted
by the Millennium Commission
12 MILLION VISITOR
TARGET; CHRONOLOGY
1995
24 May
The Commission agrees site selection guidelines
which set the "brave but defensible" aim of a minimum
15 million visitors. Believe this only possible as Exhibition
is a one-off, finite event. For site selection purposes, in particular
regarding maximum site capacity, guidelines remark that a figure
in excess of 30 million visitors unlikely and note total numbers
will be determined by a range of factors.
July
The first set of guidelines to potential operators
issued by the Commission included in the site criteria the indicative
target of achieving between 15 and 30 million visits over the
year.
1996
18 January
Commission announced preference for Imagination
proposals—asked Imagination to develop proposals for Greenwich
as well as NEC. Imagination's bid for the Birmingham site assumed
10 million visitors and detailed work was carried out in the first
half of 1996 to examine viable budget and visitor numbers targets.
21 February
The Commission announced its preference for
an exhibition at Greenwich.
February-May
ERA report to BA & Imagination on Exhibition
capacity suggested a range of 10.9 million to 16 million visitors.
Commission explored the feasibility of an Exhibition with an attendance
target of 10 million or more, an arena for 12,000, and a three-year
national programme.
16 May
Commission adopt a more modest plan involving
temporary buildings, with no arena or national programme and a
visitor target of 10 million.
11 December
The Commission rejected the business plan presented
by Millennium Central Limited (later to become NMEC), which recommended
a visitor numbers target of 13.5 million. This increase was a
reflection of increased levels of interest reported by a MORI
poll.
1997
January
MCL business plan revised by MC staff. Visitor
assumption reduced to 10 million. Indicative budget approved by
Commission 13 January.
12 May
NMEC business plan submitted to the Commission
and government. It included a balanced budget which assumed ticket
revenue of £136 million—with a visitor numbers assumption
of 12 million.
9 July
Commission agreed that the May 1997 business
plan and budget represented a grant application and provided an
acceptable basis on which to offer grant. Visitor assumptions
remain at 12 million until 2000.
2000
9 February
Commission consider revised budget information
from NMEC which assumes 10 million paying visitors. Business plan
is subsequently revised by NMEC to reflect this.
19 May
Application for additional grant based on revised
budget which assumes 6 million paying visitors. Business plan
is subsequently revised by NMEC to reflect this.
MILLENNIUM COMMISSION
Visitor figures to the end of June
Only one quarter of Millennium projects depend
on paying vistors. Although it is relatively early days for most
visitor dependent projects, the signs are encouraging. The following
table shows the number of visitors (actual) against the expected
(budget) up to the end of June for the major vistor attractions
which have been open for more than a month.
Slimbridge, National Forest Discovery Centre
and Scottish Seabirds are all outdoor attractions and are suffering
from the exceptionally bad weather we have had over the last month.
|
| Budget
| Actual | % difference
|
|
| Tate Modern | 387,692
| 1,063,161 | 174
|
| Lowry | 128,333
| 271,765 | 112
|
| Eden | 68,000
| 111,000 | 63
|
| National Botanic Garden of Wales | 37,100
| 54,774 | 48
|
| Dyanmic Earth | 347,000
| 512,000 | 48
|
| Big Idea | 31,358
| 45,208 | 44
|
| Millennium Stadium | 725,000
| 1,000,000 | 38
|
| National Space Science Centre | 4,050
| 4,650 | 15
|
| Life (ICL) | 30,249
| 30,995 | 2
|
| Slimbridge | 118,618
| 112,029 | -6
|
| National Forest Discovery Centre | 116,649
| 102,030 | -13
|
| Scottish Seabirds | 8,583
| 7,439 | -13
|
| Earth Centre | 320,000
| 120,000 | -63
|
| Total | 2,322,632
| 3,435,052 | 48
|
|
MP's perceptions of the Millennium Commission
The Commission has carried out four surveys of MPs perceptions
using the Harris Parliamentary panel.
1. Does the Work of the Millennium Commission benefit your
constituency?
1.1 Overall
|
| November 1997
| July 1998 | March 1999
| November 1999 |
|
| Benefit | 47%
| 54% | 65%
| 76% |
| No benefit | 43%
| 36% | 24%
| 13% |
|
July 2000
|
