To respond to the Community Services Scrutiny Committee review of tourism.

The Director of Regeneration presented the report in response to the Community Services Scrutiny Committee review of tourism and reminded Cabinet that the review had come before Cabinet previously, but at that time it was felt that further work needed to be carried out.  It was noted that the majority of the recommendations were accepted or agreed in principle; however, two recommendations were not. 

Recommendation two which stated never to combine a Tourist Information Centre (TIC) with an Info in Herefordshire office; and recommendation eight that each TIC should have a minimum of 2.5 full time staff equivalent.  Cabinet noted that in Bromyard there was already a successful combination of TIC and Info office in one building and would not wish to rule out joint work places to use buildings effectively.  In addition to have a minimum of 2.5 full time equivalent staff would not necessarily be appropriate to all TICs and Cabinet could not therefore approve this recommendation either.

Cabinet discussed the importance of the points raised but in the context of providing efficient use of resources and joined up services. 

RESOLVED That: the response to the recommendations as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, but excluding recommendations 2 and 8, be approved.