Meeting documents

To consider a report of the scrutiny working group in respect of the Service Review of Dorchester Tourist Information Centre.

The committee received and considered the report of the scrutiny working group following the scrutiny exercise in relation to the Service Review of West Dorset tourist information centres (TICs) and with particular regard to the TIC in Dorchester.  In addition, members considered the Business Case for the Dorchester TIC and the associated Equality Impact Assessment.

Members noted that a petition had been received and referred to the committee by Full Council in respect of the Tourist Information Centre at Antelope Walk, Dorchester and this was considered alongside the report of the scrutiny working group as part of the scrutiny of the service review process.  As the principal petitioner, Councillor Bundy addressed the committee to express his support for the retention of the TIC service within the town.  He noted his disappointment that the service had to move out of its current location in Antelope Walk but accepted that the move had to take place.  In addition he raised points with regard to the need to monitor retail sales and the need to protect the valuable and knowledgeable staff working in the TIC.  Related to this, he asked that Job Evaluation for these staff be delayed for at least two years.  In response, the Chairman noted that the equality impact assessment addressed most of the staffing issues being raised.

The Chairman referred members to an email that had been sent to all members of the committee from Andy Canning as Chairman of the Dorchester Heritage Committee.

The committee considered the report of the scrutiny working group, the draft business case and draft equality impact assessment and during discussion the following points were made:

·                The preferred option proposed in the draft business case which had been supported by the scrutiny working group was seen as providing a viable solution to securing the service in the town long term;

·                A concern was raised with regard to negative comments that it was claimed had been made by a member of another council;

·                In response to a question raised, it was noted that a review of the service operating within the library should be undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee after one year of operation;

·                The committee agreed that reference should be made in the scrutiny working group report to the district council providing a capital contribution in the case that the tourist information centre moved out of the library into new premises in the future;

·                Members noted that the move to the library could be achieved in the current financial year;

·                The two petitions presented in connection with the service review had been taken into account by the scrutiny working group during their review of the service review process.

It was proposed by J Sewell seconded by J Haynes

Decision

(a)          That the committee note the petition regarding the Tourist Information Centre at Antelope Walk, Dorchester, referred from Full Council on 3 November 2016 and have considered it as part of the scrutiny of the service review process;

(b)          That the report of the scrutiny working group attached at appendix 1 of the report be agreed as the formal response of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to the Dorchester Tourist Information Centre part of the West Dorset Tourist Information Centres Service Review, for inclusion within the report to the Executive Committee;

(b)       That the committee agree that the completed equality impact assessment for the Dorchester Tourist Information Centre part of the service review attached at appendix 3 of the report, ensures that equality issues have been fully considered and that any adverse impacts of the proposed changes on different groups have been considered and, where possible, mitigated.

To respond to the request from Full Council to consider a petition received in respect of the Tourist Information Centre at Antelope Walk, Dorchester.

To agree the formal response of the committee in respect of the scrutiny of the Dorchester Tourist Information Centre part of the West Dorset Tourist Information Centres Service Review process and viability of the options presented.

To provide the committee with the opportunity to consider the completed equality impact assessment for this part of the service review.