Meeting documents

Councillor Trumper declared a personal interest in agenda item 3, Call-In of Executive Decision - Future Provision of Tourist Information / Customer First Services, since his father sold greetings cards in the Whitby Tourist Information Centre.

Councillor Inman declared a personal interest in agenda item 3, Call-In of Executive Decision - Future Provision of Tourist Information / Customer First Services, since she operated a business near Scarborough Tourist Information Centre on the seafront.

The Chairman reported that no public questions had been submitted.

To consider a report by the Director (TW) (Reference 16/45) submitted to the Cabinet on 16 February 2016 and to determine whether to recommend to the Cabinet that it amends its decision as detailed in the Extract Minute.(Call-In form, Cabinet report, and Extract Minute of the Cabinet meeting attached)

The committee reviewed the Cabinet’s decision dated 16 February 2016 in respect of the future provision of Tourist Information and Customer First Services.  The decision had been called in for scrutiny pursuant to the Additional Overview and Scrutiny Committee Procedure Rules (4.7) set out in the Constitution.  Members had before them, for reference, the report by the Director (TW) (Reference 16/45), the extract minute and the call-in form.

Councillor Jefferson addressed the committee in support of the call-in requesting further exploration of options and consultation with local stakeholders in respect of the provision of a tourist information centre in Scarborough.  She felt the Cabinet report overlooked the significance of day visitors to the local economy who generated some £38m for the Borough.  Not all day visitors relied on digital sources of visitor information, and day visitors became staying visitors.  The proposals in the report to close the Harbourside TIC in March, Filey TIC in May, and Whitby TIC in July did not allow this further exploration and consultation.  Councillor Jefferson maintained that many local attractions and organisations paid to have their promotional literature displayed.  She reminded the meeting that the Harbourside TIC was European funded (part of the Castle Pride Single Regeneration Budget grant) to support tourism and employment.  She made the request for further consultation on behalf of the four main community groups which sat on the Castle Pride Coordinating Committee. 

Councillor Abbott then spoke in support of the call-in.  He reminded the meeting of the reasons for the call-in.  He fully understood the need for cost savings but:

1. Other options should have been considered that could be equally cost effective, but would offer a better local, face to face service e.g. Harrogate, Hambleton, etc

2. There was inadequate consultation with members and local communities before the officer’s report and recommendations were submitted to Cabinet for decision.

3. The decision was based on incomplete information and estimated statistics.  The costings did not include all the financial facts that should have been considered  

4. No risk assessment was carried out on the possible adverse effects on local attractions and businesses and local tourism economies.

Councillor Abbott added that the Job Centre in Whitby was unsuitable for Customer First because of the amount of concrete stairs in the building, the small lift reserved for disabled people, and the presence of a security guard.  Similarly, the Harbour Offices were unsuitable for a Tourist Information Centre.  The area would soon become a building site when the new Offshore Wind Centre was erected.  Visitors would have to cross a busy road to gain access to the Harbour Offices, and a wall separated the offices and car park from the main road.  He advocated instead the colocation of Customer First and tourist information in the current TIC.  He referred to the three million day visitors who came to Whitby every year and that investing in a personal welcome for day visitors paid dividends.  Councillor Abbott noted the importance of tourism to Whitby and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.