Decision details

Background

Under Key Decision 13/00080, a visitor economy services contract was awarded to Visit Kent at £280,000 per annum, for three years with an option to extend for a further three years to March 2020.  Under the terms of the current contract, the County Council also agreed to provide additional staff and financial resources to support visit Kent’s activities.  The contract requires Visit Kent to develop and deliver innovation and creative solutions to grow the Kent visitor economy, and to support KCC’s priorities for the sector which are to:

·         Promote the county to target visitor markets, and to increase the numbers of visitors to Kent and the value of visitor spend;

·         Support growth in the Kent visitor economy;

·         Provide high quality support to the Kent tourism business sector;

·         Improve the skills levels of employees within Kent’s visitor economy; and

·         Attract additional public and private sector investment.

Policy context

The proposed decision is consistent with the following outcomes in KCC’s Strategic Statement (‘increasing Opportunities, Improving Outcomes):

·         Kent communities feel the benefits of economic growth by being in work, healthy and enjoying a good quality of life (Strategic Outcome);

·         Kent business growth is supported by having access to a well skilled workforce (Supported Outcome);

·         All Kent’s communities benefit from economic growth and lower levels of deprivation (Supporting Outcome); and

·         Kent residents enjoy a good quality of life and more people benefit from greater social, cultural and sporting opportunities.

Financial implications

The value of the County Council’s contract with Visit Kent for the period April 2017 to March 2018 would be £410,000. This would comprise the main contract (maintained at £280,000), staff resources seconded to Visit Kent (approximately £30,000) and a one-off financial contribution to support externally funded projects in support of the visitor economy (£100,000).

Legal implications

The contract is extendable under the terms of the current contract with Visit Kent for a period of up to 36 months.

Equalities implications

The new contract with Visit Kent will contain provisions for ensuring that the County Council’s equalities and diversities policies are adhered to.  Visit Kent’s own equalities and diversities standards are consistent with those of the County Council.