To award the contract for the delivery of visitor economy services
described below to the winning bidder of a tendering
exercise.
The successful supplier will be expected to develop innovative and
creative solutions to grow the Kent visitor economy and support
KCC’s priorities for this sector, which are to:
· Promote the county to target visitor markets to increase 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 the Kent visitor economy
· Attract additional public and private sector investment
As one of its three clear aims within Bold Steps for Kent, Kent County Council is committed to growing the economy of Kent. Ensuring a strong visitor economy in Kent, attracting visitors and visitor spend and providing support to Kent tourism businesses is a key element in achieving this aim.
Financial Implications:
£280,000 per annum, for 3 years, with option to extend for
further 3 years
Legal Implications:
None
Equality Implications:
Equality requirements were included as part of the tender
specifications
The matter is referred to in the Divisional Business Plan or Medium Term Capital Programme
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure or savings of more than £1m;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: (All Division);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 18/11/2013
Decision due: 7 Jan 2014 by Leader and Cabinet Member for Health Reform
Lead director: David Cockburn, Barbara Cooper
Department: Strategic & Corporate Services
Contact: Wayne Gough, Head of Directorate Business & Planning Tel: 01622 221960 Email: wayne.gough@kent.gov.uk.
Consultees
The coming to an end of the previous SLA with
Visit Kent (which ran from April 2010 –March 2013) was
discussed at Economic Development Cabinet Committee in November
2012, and the option to extend that SLA for a year, while more
permanent arrangements were made was discussed at Economic
Development Cabinet Committee on 6th March 2013
A report is scheduled for Economic Development Cabinet Committee on
3rd December 2013 outlining; the current SLA arrangements, and the
procurement process followed to identify a supplier to deliver the
services from April 1st 2014, this will include the specification
of the service that we tendered for.
Following that discussion, the Cabinet Member will take the
decision to award the contract within a week, assuming contract
negotiations have been completed with the successful bidder.
Financial implications: Economic Development Manager Business Strategy and Support Ext: 7000 - 1960 DDI: 01622 221960 Invicta House Wayne.Gough@kent.gov.uk
Legal implications: 13/00080
Equalities implications: Financial criteria exceeded