Decision details

On 14 July 2020, Executive will consider an updated Medium Term Financial Plan which includes a £160,000 saving from closing the Tourist Information Centre.  The Executive report delegates the final decision to the Chief Operating Officer so that relevant consultations can be taken into consideration.

To close the Tourist Information Centre with effect from 1^st October 2020.

Reasons:

i)        The Tourist Information Centre (TIC) is not essential to the Ipswich Visitor Economy

ii)       The TIC is costly to operate

iii)      The alternative proposals presented by consultees do not remove the Council’s subsidy to the service and make the necessary Medium-Term Financial Plan saving.

iv)     Neither the consultation process nor research substantiates the assertion that a TIC generates visits to a place; this position is supported by the Ipswich Destination Management Organisation (DMO)

v)       The functions of the TIC can be provided elsewhere in the Council