Issue - meetings

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.

Councillor Cherry Beath, in proposing the item, said that the Bath Tourist Information Centre presently looked a little sad, surrounded as it was by such beautiful buildings.  Yet it was the second most used TIC in the country.  She explained the proposals and said that the refurbishment would enable better promotion of events.

Councillor David Bellotti in seconding the proposal referred to paragraph 3.1 of the report, which clearly stated that all borrowing would be repaid.  He pointed out that by bringing together the tourist Information Centre and the Festivals Box Office, a staffing reduction of 0.4 would be achieved.

Councillor David Dixon supported the project which he said was a real example of joined up thinking.

Councillor Tim Ball supported the proposals, but with reservations.  He felt that in times of austerity, this would be a big investment.  He saw the benefits of the investment but would have preferred to see it paid back in 5 years instead of 10 years.

Councillor Roger Symonds supported the proposals.  He felt that Bath was fortunate to have its TIC in such a good location and reminded Cabinet that the TIC had almost been lost to the city a few years earlier when it had been proposed for closure.  He was delighted it had been saved and would now be refurbished.

Councillor Cherry Beath said that she would be mindful of the comments made by Cabinet members.

On a motion from Councillor Cherry Beath, seconded by Councillor David Bellotti, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(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.