Cabinet received and considered Minute OSC18/52 arising from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) held on 29 April 2019 that had considered the final recommendations of the Tourism Task and Finish Group (TT&FG).  The OSC had appointed the TT&FG to undertake a scrutiny review of the Council’s tourism activities.

 

The TT&FG had undertaken a thorough and comprehensive review by way of officer presentations and reports and presentations from relevant external organisations / stakeholders.  The review had focused on various aspects of the visitor economy, as well as updating the Visitor Economy Chapter of the Council’s Economic Regeneration Strategy, as attached at Appendix A to the report.  The work of the TT&FG culminated in the identification of eight main recommendations, which included improvements in marketing, visitor information, research, accommodation, events, strategic / partnership working, budget and funding and sharing economy.  It was also acknowledged that the Council’s capacity and priorities were of necessity shaped by the resources at its disposal; and that the Council had to target its activity at those areas where it could have the greatest impact.

 

During the debate the following points were noted:

 

·       Questions were raised regarding what services were provided by 1066 Country and the geographical area it covered.  Cabinet was advised that 1066 covered the whole of the Rother District, Hastings Borough and Eastern Wealden District including Hertsmonceux and Pevensey.  Members were encouraged to view 1066 Country’s website https://www.visit1066country.com/.  Further information was available from the Regeneration Team.

·       Members queried what services Brochure Connect provided.  It was confirmed that three Tourist Information Points (TIPs,) located within each of the main towns in the district were supported by the service, with a further network of 32 Local Information Points (LIPs).  They circulated and distributed all tourism literature across the district.  A suggestion was proposed that all literature be delivered to the Parish and Town Council Clerks to ensure maximum coverage, particularly across the rural areas.

·       It was considered important that stringent Key Performance Indicators were linked to the Economic Regeneration Strategy, monitored by the Lead Member for Public Realm, Culture and Tourism and reported to the OSC.

·       All organisations be made aware of the current policy and guidelines for the allocation of event funding.

 

Several amendments were proposed to the recommendations, as follows:

 

·       1) i. to remove the wording “three year” and include the words “to be reviewed annually” at the end of the sentence.

·       1) iii. be changed from annual to “6 monthly” basis.  Cabinet was reminded that the OSC set their own Work Programme, therefore it would be up to the Committee to review this, subject to the commitments of their Work Programme.

·       1) viii. to remove the word “available” and replace with “promoted”.

·       By the inclusion of “toilets” to paragraph 6 of section “As a service provider and legislator” after the word museums of Appendix A – Draft Visitor Economy Chapter to the Council’s Economic Regeneration Strategy.   

 

An amendment was proposed to the Cabinet Portfolios, namely Public Realm to be removed from Environment and Transport and added to Culture and Tourism.  The Leader confirmed his agreement to this amendment.

 

Members requested that 1066 Country be invited to present at a future full Council meeting to advise Members of the services they provided.

 

Cabinet was pleased to endorse and recommend the draft Visitor Economy Chapter of the Economic Regeneration Strategy with the above suggested amendments which detailed how the Council would deliver and support tourism activities.

 

RECOMMENDED: That the draft Visitor Economy Chapter of the Economic Regeneration Strategy attached at Appendix A be approved and adopted as amended, to include reference to Skills East Sussex and Parish Councils.

 

AND

 

*RESOLVED: That the following recommendations of the Tourism Task and Finish Group be approved:

 

1)    Marketing Recommendations:

i.            The Council enters into a funding agreement with the 1066 Country Partnership at the present level of £50,000 per annum, subject to a commitment to increasing private sector contributions year on year to be reviewed annually.

 

ii.           The Council’s Lead Member for Public Realm, Culture and Tourism continues to work alongside officers to monitor the 1066 Country Partnership and contribute to monitoring and refreshing the Partnership’s marketing strategy ensuring due consideration is paid to the highlighted markets.

 

iii.         The Council’s Lead Member for Public Realm, Culture and Tourism to report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on a 6-monthly basis on the performance of the 1066 Partnership, as and when appropriate.

 

Visitor Information Recommendations:

iv.         The visitor information services contract be reviewed and a report and recommendations be brought to Overview and Scrutiny Committee by June 2020, in time to re-tender the service prior to expiry of the current contract in March 2021.

v.          Officers explore the option to widen the procurement to encompass the whole of 1066 Country.

 

Research Recommendations:

vi.         The Council, with Partners, continues to support visitor research to inform future decision making.

 

Accommodation Recommendations:

vii.       Officers continue to work with developers and landowners to encourage the development of more serviced accommodation in the district, particularly in Bexhill, in accordance with Local Plan policies and Corporate Plan objectives.

 

Events Recommendations:

viii.      The Council consolidates the visitor events funding into a single programme that is promoted to organisations and event promoters from across the whole of the district.   

 

ix.         The current policy and guidelines for the allocation of event funding be revised as follows:

 

a)  two bidding rounds of funding to be offered in each financial year, in March and September;

b)  weightings to be introduced within a scoring system for funding applications, with a greater weighting awarded to those events planned for shoulder-season;

c)  Council funding to be awarded to event organisers who can show growth within their event to increase visitor numbers to the district and add to the local economy; and

d)  consideration be given to partnership funding for events from East Sussex County Council and / or from Parish and Town Councils.

 

The new arrangements to come into effect from 1 April 2020.

 

x.          Council owned Car Parks should only be used as venues for events when it is considered absolutely necessary for the functioning of the event.

 

Strategic / Partnership Working Recommendations:

xi.         The Council continues to work with local, regional and national partners to develop, deliver and promote tourism projects and programmes relating to the visitor economy and cultural tourism.

 

xii.       The Council to work with Skills East Sussex and local education providers to promote opportunities for careers in the tourism sector.

 

Budget and Funding Recommendations:

xiii.      Officers continue to explore opportunities to attract external funding in support of the visitor economy in recognition of a finite budget and pressures on the Council’s finances.  Any savings made within the tourism budget to be allocated back into tourism and directed towards events.

 

xiv.     Consideration be given to increasing the tourism budget in future years by the rate of inflation.

 

xv.       The Chambers of Commerce in Battle, Bexhill and Rye, and any other interested parties, be invited to meet with the Lead Member for Public Realm, Culture and Tourism to explore their interest in developing Business Improvements Districts in their locality.

 

Sharing Economy Recommendations:

xvi.     The Council lobbies with partners for greater regulation of the sharing economy, with a preference for a self-regulating scheme.

 

xvii.    The Council consider what resources would be required with the introduction of a statutory registration scheme for tourism accommodation, to be offset by registration charges and report back to the Licensing and General Purposes Committee.

 

xviii.   The Council offers support to businesses to capitalise on new media platforms, including shared economy platforms and how to adapt and diversify their product with partners.

 

xix.     A promotional campaign to be developed to ensure tourism accommodation property owners are aware of their responsibilities and obligations.

 

xx.       The costs of business support and the promotional campaign to be met from the existing tourism budget.

 

xxi.     The use of sharing economy platforms be acknowledged across the district through the 1066 Country campaign, but property owners be required to comply with legislation in order to register.

 

2)    the Tourism Task and Finish Group, having fulfilled its Terms of Reference, be dissolved; and

 

3)    1066 Country be invited to present at a future full Council meeting to advise Members of the services they provided.

 

*The RESOLVED parts of this minute are subject to the call-in procedure under Rule 16 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules.       

 

(Councillor Vine-Hall declared a personal interest in this matter as he owned and ran a holiday let and in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct remained in the room during the consideration thereof).