Decision details
To tender and appoint a consultant to undertake the delivery of a Visitor Website as part of the delivery of the Marches Investment Fund Visitor Economy Project
Decision Maker: Director of Economy and Place (Historic)
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Purpose:
The Herefordshire visitor economy has been
severely impacted by Covid 19 and the resulting lockdown. Tourism
accommodation and attractions, cultural venues, hospitality
businesses, non-essential retailers were instructed by government
to close for circa 3 months during the start of their usual peak
season period. This has significantly threatened the viability of
these businesses, and put at risk of redundancy the large numbers
of people they employ.
In May the Marches LEP allocated £444,220 to Herefordshire to
support Covid 19 economic recovery, subject to the development of a
business case. Herefordshire Council in partnership with the
Herefordshire Business Board established and submitted a business
case focussed on supporting the soonest possible recovery of the
visitor economy. Shropshire Council (as the accountable body) on
behalf of the Marches LEP issued a funding offer letter to
Herefordshire Council on the 17 June, and the Cabinet Member for
Environment Economy and Skills took a decision to accept the grant
and implement the project on the 20 June.
Recognising the need to engage with visitor economy businesses to
co-ordinate delivery and to seek relevant expertise, a project
steering group was formed in June 2020.
The development of a modern visitor website, with a range of new
content and functionality in order to compete with similar
destinations has been identified as a critical by the project
steering group and in the marketing plan. Recognising the need to
seek appropriate expertise to deliver the visitor website the
procurement will be taken in accordance with the council’s
contract procedure rules.
Contact: Rachel Jones, Economic development officer Email: rejones@herefordshire.gov.uk Tel: 01432 261784.
Publication date: 26/11/2020
Date of decision: 26/11/2020
Accompanying Documents: