Agenda item

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.     The Policy Committee are asked to review and comment on the work undertaken to develop the:

·       Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and Winchester Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP)

·       Hampshire Destination Management Plan (DMP)

2.     The Policy Committee are asked to support the council’s role in facilitating the delivery of the LVEP and realising its benefits in supporting the visitor economy across the district. 

Councillor Lucille Thompson, Cabinet Member for Business and Culture introduced the report which included the following points:

1. The district’s visitor economy was significant, welcoming over 8 million visitors annually, which supported 5,760 local jobs and contributed £292 million to the local economy.
2. In May of this year, Winchester City Council, alongside Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, and Southampton City Council, gained Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) accreditation from Visit England.
3. The LVEP provided a strategic approach to grow the visitor economy across the county, strengthening Hampshire's profile as a world-class destination and showcasing the district's offer to a wider audience.
4. The partnership aimed to drive sustainable growth, with the potential to attract new investment and create jobs.
5. In the context of Local Government Reorganisation, the LVEP was timely and ensured the council played a leading role in shaping Hampshire’s future visitor economy.

The committee was asked to

1. Review and comment on the work undertaken to develop the Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and Winchester Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) and the Hampshire Destination Management Plan (DMP)

2. Support the council's role in facilitating the delivery of the LVEP and realising its benefits in supporting the visitor economy across the district.

The committee proceeded to ask questions and debate the report. In summary, the following matters were raised.

1. A question was asked if there were any projections for an increase in visitor numbers or revenue as a result of the partnership, and what the associated risks were.
2. Clarification was sought regarding the £2,000 budget contribution and what this would cover.
3. A question was raised about the specific deliverables of the partnership and how its goals would be achieved.
4. An example was requested of how a working group would function and how its work would translate into deliverables for one of the local authorities within the partnership.
5. A concern was raised about the City Council potentially losing out on central government funding compared to other regions.
6. Given the existing success of Visit Winchester, a question was asked what the LVEP would enable the council to do that it was not already doing, particularly in attracting visitors from neighbouring areas like Portsmouth.
7. Clarification was sought on how the partnership would help promote sustainable travel within the district in support of the “Greener Faster” agenda.
8. A question was asked about how momentum would be maintained and whether the larger structure could hinder the ability to remain nimble at a local level.
9. Further detail was requested on what the £2,000 contribution provided and whether the council would consider investing more in the future if the partnership proved successful.
10. A question was raised about the risk of the Hampshire-wide plan causing the district to potentially lose business to other areas and how this would be measured.
11. Clarification was sought on whether the current membership of the shadow advisory board was a starting point, with an expectation that other organisations would join later.
12. In the context of local government reorganisation, a question was asked about the expected changes to the LVEP, based on the experience of other devolved authorities.

These points were responded to by Andrew Gostelow, Service Lead - Economy & Tourism, Rachel Gander, Tourism Marketing & Development Manager, Councillor Lucille Thompson, Cabinet Member for Business and Culture accordingly.

RESOLVED:

1. That the committee reviewed and commented on the work undertaken to develop the Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and Winchester Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) and the Hampshire Destination Management Plan (DMP).
2. That the committee supported the council's role in facilitating the delivery of the LVEP and realising its benefits, noting it was a timely opportunity for the City Council to work on a wider regional stage, particularly in the context of local government reorganisation.