Decision details

The Bath Tourist Information Centre is badly in need of refurbishment as little has been done to this council owned building for over 13 years.  The capital cost of improvements is £186k, which includes transferring the Festivals Box Office from its current site in Abbey Green into the TIC premises.

(1) To APPROVE the capital project enable Bath Tourism Plus, a controlled company of the Council, to progress the refurbishment of the Tourist Information Centre on behalf of the Council;

(2) To AGREE that the Council’s annual borrowing costs should be met by reducing the annual fee to Bath Tourism Plus by an equivalent amount.

The proposals 2 will enable work to progress on a refurbishment of the TIC that is badly needed. The work will refresh the offer to visitors and will incorporate the transfer of the Festivals Box Office from its premises in Abbey Green, with consequent revenue savings and increased income opportunities.

The costs will be recovered via a reduction in the annual fee paid to Bath Tourism Plus.

The consequence of this decision is that one of the Council’s buildings is improved. Should Bath Tourism Plus cease to occupy this building then it will return to the Council in an improved state of decoration and functionality.

Investing in refurbishment excluding the festivals box office was considered. This was rejected because it would not allow cost savings and efficiencies to be generated.