Issue - items at meetings - Tourism, Visitor Economy and the work of Visit Brighton

Report of the Executive Director for Economy, Environment & Culture (copy attached).

RESOLVED - That the Committee note the work undertaken to support a vibrant tourism economy in the City and agrees that officers develop a new Tourism Strategy for the City alongside the development of the City’s new Economic Strategy.

60.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director for Economy, Environment & Culture in relation to Supporting a Vibrant Tourist Economy. The report provided the Committee with background information on the tourism economy in Brighton & Hove and the work of VisitBrighton to support and drive a vibrant tourist economy in the city.  The report also recommended that Officers undertake a review of the city’s tourism strategy and develop a new Tourism Strategy alongside the review of the City’s Economic Strategy. The Executive Director also gave a short presentation.

60.2      The Chair noted that he had been in attendance at the recent Visit England event, and praised how good it had been.

60.3      Councillor Morris also praised this event, and asked for specific breakdown of overseas visitors; Officers agreed to provide this information after the meeting.

60.4      Councillor Peltzer Dunn noted the high quality of the tourism brochure that had been circulated to the Committee. He noted the difficulty of predicting tourist activity and welcomed the approach taken to adopt a six year strategy. He went on to suggest that the policy be drafted in such a way that it could be amended if necessary, the Chair welcomed this approach.

60.5      In response to a series of questions from Councillor Druitt the following was explained. Officers were engaging with businesses that would be affected by the changes to business rates; advice was given on how they could have make appeals to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). It was difficult to accurately assess the impact of Brexit on the local visitor economy, but the city would need to respond positively in this competitive market and ensure it retained a global visitor market. Infrastructure needed to keep up with the growth in the local economy, and the Environment, Transport & Sustainability (ETS) Committee was looking at smarter and better ways to do things including intelligent transport systems and LED lighting. In relation to fly tipping the ETS Committee had considered reports in relation to enforcement; this included using CCTV to catch those committing the crime.

60.6      In response to Councillor Greenbaum it was confirmed that the Council was working with other national tourist organisations to lobby government to argue that the impacts on the tourist economy were thought through during Brexit negotiations.

60.7      In response to Councillor Allen it was agreed that a report could be brought to the next meeting to consider the impact of changes to business rates on the tourist economy.

60.8      Councillor C. Theobald welcomed the success of cultural festivals in the city; however, she noted the fall in the number visiting Council museums since the introduction of charges.

60.9      The Chair put the recommendations to the vote.

60.10   RESOLVED - That the Committee note the work undertaken to support a vibrant tourism economy in the City and agrees that officers develop a new Tourism Strategy for the City alongside the development of the City’s new Economic Strategy.