While at first glance, the Humber may not have much in common with the Caribbean, there is a compelling logic behind the argument that could justify the expense.

Associated British Ports has been in discussions with the local authorities over the terminal.

Together with the city council, the tourist board and the economic development company, it commissioned a study to look at the feasibility of locating a terminal at the port.

The findings were favourable, which suggest support in the city. It identified a growing international market for cruise liners and saw that other UK ports are taking advantage of the opportunity.

Hull has some distinct advantages as a port of call and home port.

It has the ability to accommodate the biggest cruise liners in the world. We are talking about the likes of the Independence of the Seas here, the largest ever passenger vessel which can accommodate 4,370 passengers, served by 1,360 crew.

Hull also sits in the centre of the east coast, with a catchment area of 40 million people within four hours' drive.

It is a gateway to some of Britain's best tourist attractions here in Yorkshire, including the Yorkshire Dales, the North Yorkshire Moors and the City of York.

Hull's own tourist offering is vastly improved and includes Premiership football, Super League Rugby and The Deep. According to research, cruise passengers spend an average of £120 at each place they visit. Yorkshire's tourist industry will be rubbing its hands together at such a prospect.

Matt Jukes, ABP's port director for Hull and Goole, told me: "I think this is an absolutely fantastic opportunity. The next stage is to get all the parties together to see if there's funding in place."

ABP is hopeful of reaching an agreement with the local authorities that the taxpayer would foot some of the cost for the terminal.

It is not known how much that cost would be at this stage.

A recent ABP terminal built at Southampton cost around £18m, but there are suggestions that a development at Hull could be cheaper, given that there is already access through deep river channel that runs right next to the quay.

The big question will be whether the public sector has the will to fund the project. It could be difficult in this climate of massive public deficits to justify the spend.

ABP, which is owned by a consortium including Goldman Sachs and various well-heeled investment funds, should of course pay its fair share. It will benefit financially.

But so too would the region. And that's a good argument for a public-private partnership.

IF the green shoots that we keep on hearing about fail to take root, we could end up with lots of community allotments.

How so? Let me explain.

DS Emotion, a marketing agency that specialises in regeneration, came up with a good idea for the unsightly hole in the middle of Leeds where the Lumiere skyscraper was supposed to be built.

It suggested to the city council that the land be opened up and given over to a community allotment, which could involve schools, charities and businesses.

Local firms would sponsor grow bags, which could be tended by the homeless, creating some employment and lots of flowers, fresh fruit and vegetables.

Meantime, there would be minimal impact on the groundwork of the scheme.

Matt Button, of DS Emotion's Leeds office said it could work in any town or city centre development site that has been mothballed due to the recession.

The idea was picked up by Andrew Mason, the chairman of the Bradford Property Forum, who said it would make good use of the 15-acre crater in the centre of Bradford that was supposed to be the Westfield shopping centre.

Mr Mason said it would bring some dynamics back into the centre of the city.

These sites are depressing reminders of the recession and, more importantly, bad adverts for Yorkshire's towns and cities.

The longer they remain dormant, the louder the calls will become for something to happen.

A new green space in centre of a city, even if it is temporary, is a fine idea.

Green shoots indeed.