Lead Member – Mr Stuart West – Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture.

Report of the Director of Commissioning is attached, marked 6.

Contact: George Candler 01743 255003

RESOLVED:

i)             That the Visitor Information Centre at Mile End Service Area be decommissioned as soon as possible;

ii)         That the Council endeavours to hand back the lease to the landlord in a condition that meets the requirements of the lease; although there is no provision for an early surrender therefore this would be subject to negotiation;

iii)        That a display board be erected on the site to guide visitors to other sources of information;

iv)        That Oswestry Borderland Tourism Association be commissioned via a three year Contract for Services to deal with enquiries from visitors by email, telephone and post; and

v)         That the Director of Commissioning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure, be delegated responsibility to take any further decisions and actions to implement the recommendations 

140.1  The Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture presented a report by the Head of Commissioning on the redesign of visitor information services in North West Shropshire.  He explained the proposal to decommission the Visitor Information Centre at Mile End Service Area near Oswestry and commission Oswestry Borderland Tourism Association to deal with enquiries from visitors by email, telephone and post with alternative sources of information for visitors being signposted from the service area.

140.2  RESOLVED:

i)             That the Visitor Information Centre at Mile End Service Area be decommissioned as soon as possible;

ii)         That the Council endeavours to hand back the lease to the landlord in a condition that meets the requirements of the lease; although there is no provision for an early surrender therefore this would be subject to negotiation;

iii)        That a display board be erected on the site to guide visitors to other sources of information;

iv)        That Oswestry Borderland Tourism Association be commissioned via a three year Contract for Services to deal with enquiries from visitors by email, telephone and post; and

v)         That the Director of Commissioning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure, be delegated responsibility to take any further decisions and actions to implement the recommendations