Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from:-

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting of the Tourism Panel held on 17^th March, 2008.

Agreed:-  That the minutes be agreed as a correct record.

There were no matters arising from the previous minutes.

There were no issues raised by the industry representatives.

Further to Minute No.  62(2) of the meeting of the Tourism Panel held on 4^th February, 2008, consideration was given to the invitation to visit Winthrop Park - Nature Therapy Garden.

Agreed:-  That the next meeting of the Panel take place at Winthrop Park.

(i)                 Voice of Tourism

(ii)               Tourism Authority Forum – 24^th January, 2008.

(iii)             Tourism Authority Forum – 25^th April, 2008.

(iv)              Tourism Authority Forum – 25^th April, 2008 – Activity Update

Joanne Edley, Tourism Manager, to report.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Yorkshire Tourist Board Authority Forum as follows:-

(i)                 Voice of Tourism

(ii)               Tourism Authority Forum – 24^th January, 2008

(iii)             Tourism Authority Forum – 25^th April, 2008

(iv)              Tourism Authority Forum – 25^th April, 2008 – Activity Update

Joanne Edley, Tourism Manager, Matthew Beck, Chief Executive of MAGNA and Tom Waldron-Lynch, Hellaby Hall Hotel, commented on key issues arising from the above meetings and minutes.

Reference was made to the following:-

-                      changes to the tourism organisation and the Framework Review for the development of British Tourism

-                      the developing Business Plan

-                      the importance of the Area Tourism Partnerships

-                      YTB management changes

-                      issues re:  transparency and links with local authorities

-                      Yorkshire Forward and the prospective budget allocation

-                      Rotherham’s contribution in officers’ time

-                      communication difficulties

-                      the need for input from local authorities

Agreed:-  (1)  That the minutes of the meetings of Yorkshire Tourist Board Authority Forum be noted.

(2)                    That the Tourism Manager asks the Strategic Director, Environment and Development Services, the Leader and the Chief Executive to use their best efforts to encourage the local M.P.’s to give support to local authorities’ representation in the review of the delivery of Tourism in the region and on organisations resulting therefrom.

(3)  That the Chief Executive of Yorkshire South Tourism be asked to give a briefing on the proposed Yorkshire Plans for Tourism and Sub Regional Tourism Partnerships to the July meeting of the Panel.

Joanne Edley, Tourism Manager, to report.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by Joanne Edley, Tourism Manager, detailing the updating of the above Retail Policy to bring it into line with Culture and Leisure Services Fees and Charges.

It was noted that charges for photocopying were still under review.

Members asked about:-

-                      Use of Customer Service Centres as retail outlets for Rotherham merchandise

-                      Average spend

-                      Information provided to the country parks, and venues beyond the Borough boundary

The Tourism Manager also reported that currently stock in the Visitor Centre was being run down to enable work to concentrate on the introduction of Databox, then it would be re stocked which would mean that the Visitor Information Centre could sell tickets for other events and thus bring in income.

Bernard Jones, South Yorkshire Transport Museum, commented on the “average spend” being in the region of £2 per purchaser.

Matthew Beck, MAGNA, confirmed that visitor spend was currently going down although catering spend was increasing.

Agreed:-  That the report and updated Policy be noted.

Alison Hall, Renaissance Marketing Officer, to report.

Alison Hall, Renaissance Marketing Officer, reported that a marketing plan had been put together including actions which will promote Rotherham Renaissance and increase footfall within the town centre.

She explained that these actions have taken the form of:-

(i)                 Bus advertising – a 4 week campaign across Doncaster, Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield promoting Rotherham town centre as a place to “eat, live, and shop”, whilst also promoting the All Saints’ quarter developments

(ii)               Hanging baskets campaign – subject to funding from partners

(iii)             A window dressing campaign for the High Street empty properties

(iv)              Update of Map/information boards to show information of development work and town centre events.

Members commented on the extensive use of Clifton Park by Borough and non-Borough residents.

Agreed:-  That the update be noted.

Joanne Edley, Tourism Manager, to report.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by Joanne Edley, Tourism Manager, relating to the ending of the Rotherham Tourism Plan 2005-2008.  It was explained that this Plan had now come to an end, and in its place a Draft Visitor Economy Plan 2008-2013 had been produced following consultation with partners.

The four key objectives of the Draft Visitor Economy Plan, which matched those of Yorkshire Forward, were outlined as follows:-

Objective 1

To promote Rotherham as a visitor destination, improve the image and perception of Rotherham. This will increase the number of visitors and economic impact for the area.

Objective 2

To improve the quality standards of the facilities, provide excellent experiences for the local residents and visitors to the area.

Objective 3

To increase the skills base in the visitor economy associated areas.

Objective 4

To implement a Destination Management Plan that follows a sustainable model for the visitor economy to be effective. As it is essential that all tourism related developments are sensitive to the local community, benefits the local economy and environment.

It was reported that an action plan and editorial had been developed around these objectives and the local, sub regional, regional sub pan regional and national objectives.

It was also reported that Yorkshire Forward and VisitBritain were reviewing the delivery of tourism regionally and nationally and this would affect how tourism was delivered in Rotherham.  Therefore the Draft Visitor Economy Plan would need to be changed to take these plans(available from the end of June) into account.

Agreed:-   That the update be noted and the work on the Draft Visitor Economy Plan be put on hold until receipt of the reports referred to above.

The following issues were raised:-

(i)  Promotions to potential European visitors were to be investigated with Yorkshire South Tourism, Yorkshire Tourist Board, England’s North Country and VisitBritain.

Agreed:  That the availability and distribution of leaflets for P&O and the VisitBritain office in Holland be revisited.

(ii)  In-house How’s the Service Survey previously How’s The Visitor Economy Today? Business Survey

It was reported that it was intended to run a How’s the Service Survey in June. It was requested that the email survey would be sent to the industry representatives to send back a response by way of testing that the survey technology was working before sending to all the email list of businesses and a further 20 would also be sent by post to businesses that did not have email addresses.

(iii)  Triathlon Event at Rother Valley Country Park 31^st May & 1^st June

This event had been organised in conjunction with One Step Beyond and was reported as a great success.  Over 600 competitors took part over the weekend.

The number of tourism nights was difficult to assess as many people waited to see what the weather would be before booking and then booked directly with the hotels rather than via the hyper-link on Yorkshire South Tourism’s website.

A breakdown of Postcodes had been requested.

(iv)  Walking Festival – 30^th June to 13^th July, 2008

35 walks had been organised in association with various local walking groups and the Walkers Action Group.  The health and education elements were noted.  It was thought that further links could be made with the Senior Sports & Physical Activity Development Officer.

(v)                Freedom of Information request

A request for information had been received from the Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, relating to a review of tourism and the Tourism Service had supplied relevant information.

(vi)              Ministry of Food

Julie Roberts, the Town Centre Manager, gave a synopsis of work and activities.

MONDAY, 14^TH JULY, 2008 at 2 p.m. at the Town Hall, Moorgate Street, Rotherham.

Agreed:-  That the next meeting of the Tourism Panel be held on MONDAY, 14^TH JULY, 2008 at 2.30 p.m. at Winthrop Park, Wickersley, Rotherham (subject to detailed arrangements being confirmed).