Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Portfolio Holder for Customer and Community Services.

Decision

(a)       That Dorset Council stops directly funding tourist information centres (TICs) in Dorchester, Sherborne and Wareham.

(b)       That Dorset Council continues to work with the Town Councils and/or other local services and will consider one-off support funding for suitable transitionary arrangements to reduce the impact of the closure of the TIC on local people.

(c)        That authority be delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Customer and Community Services, in consultation with the Executive Director for Place, to agree any support payment arrangements.

(d)       That Dorset Council continues to promote Dorset as a visitor destination through its Visit Dorset website.

Reasons for the decision

(a)       TICs are a discretionary service and there is currently disparity across the council area. Dorset Council cannot afford to fund TICs across the whole of the Council area.

(b)       To support local alternatives, for example via Town Council, that may wish to facilitate transitionary arrangements in place of TIC services.

(c)        To provide transitionary funding, for example via Town Councils, that may wish to support alternative arrangements in place of TIC services.

(d)       To support the tourism sector to attract visitors to Dorset, particularly

focussing on extending the tourism season.

In introducing the report, the Portfolio Holder for Customer and Community Services stated that tourist information centres were a discretionary service and there was currently disparity across the council area. She sought members agreement on the way forward for Dorset Council in respect of its approach to funding and managing tourist information centres. Members were further advised that the Place & Resources Overview Committee endorsed the recommendations set out in the report at their meeting on 25 February 2021.

Decision

(a)       That Dorset Council stops directly funding tourist information centres (TICs) in Dorchester, Sherborne and Wareham.

(b)       That Dorset Council continues to work with the Town Councils and/or other local services and will consider one-off support funding for suitable transitionary arrangements to reduce the impact of the closure of the TIC on local people.

(c)        That authority be delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Customer and Community Services, in consultation with the Executive Director for Place, to agree any support payment arrangements.

(d)       That Dorset Council continues to promote Dorset as a visitor destination through its Visit Dorset website.

Reasons for the decision

(a)       TICs are a discretionary service and there is currently disparity across the council area. Dorset Council cannot afford to fund TICs across the whole of the Council area.

(b)       To support local alternatives, for example via Town Council, that may wish to facilitate transitionary arrangements in place of TIC services.

(c)        To provide transitionary funding, for example via Town Councils, that may wish to support alternative arrangements in place of TIC services.

(d)       To support the tourism sector to attract visitors to Dorset, particularly

focussing on extending the tourism season.

To consider a joint report of the Service Manager for Libraries and Head of Business Insight and Corporate Communications.

The committee received a joint report of the Service Manager for Libraries and Head of Business Insight and Corporate Communications, which sought support on the way forward for Dorset Council in respect of its approach to funding and managing tourist information centres.  In introducing the report, the Chairman noted that tourist information centres were a discretionary service and there was currently disparity across the council area.  Consultation had been undertaken and alternative delivery models were being investigated.

The committee considered the issues arising from the report and strong support was raised in respect of opportunities to look at the ‘Visit Dorset’ website including how rural areas away from the coast were marketed and the potential to develop an app for mobile phones.  If the recommendations were agreed, existing funding levels would cease at the end of the current financial year, however, there would be continued support and negotiations moving forward.

It was proposed by S Jespersen seconded by A Starr.

Recommendation to Cabinet

That the following recommendations are endorsed:

1.         Dorset Council stops directly funding tourist information centres (TICs) in Dorchester, Sherborne and Wareham.

2.         Dorset Council continues to work with the Town Councils and/or other local services and will consider one-off support funding for suitable transitionary arrangements to reduce the impact of the closure of the TIC on local people. 

3.         Authority is delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Customer and Community Services, in consultation with the Executive Director for Place, to agree any support payment arrangements agreed.

4.         Dorset Council continues to promote Dorset as a visitor destination through its Visit Dorset website.