I was delighted to go to the Local Government Association Culture, Tourism and Sport Board meeting today.
This was held at Elstree Studios, where films like; Star Wars, Indiana Jones and The Kings Speech were filmed. Elstree has a long history, including the first UK talking film – Hitchcock’s Blackmail. Although the studio closed and became derelict in 1996. Thankfully the local council came to the rescue taking control of the site and putting in vital investment. Since then the Studio has gone from strength to strength being used for many films and television productions. So much so, that the local council receives a rental income of over £1 million pounds per year – which can be spent on local services. This is likely to 
increase further when four acres of unused land is put to use. The studio also provides 800 jobs and the economic benefit to all the local shops and businesses during filming.
It really did bring home to me the important work that the LGA CT&S Board does to help vital industries like this. Thank you to Elstree Studios for the tour and hosting us today. I am pictured with Cllr Morris Bright, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Elstree Studios.
