Agenda item

Consideration was given to report of the Destination Management Officer.

Councillor L. Parsons declared an interest in this matter.

The Destination Management Officer presented the report which provided a summary of the Blaenau Gwent Destination Management Plan, which was a strategic document setting out the priorities for tourism development in Blaenau Gwent over the period 2020-2025, and which complemented the new Visit Wales Tourism Action Plan over the same period.  The aim of the Plan was to ensure that people, businesses and organisations work together in a coordinated way to deliver agreed targets and priorities for investment.

The Plan identified six cross cutting themes and five main themes and priority areas, and these were highlighted at section 2.3 of the report. The Plan and associated Action Plan have taken account of national, strategic and local trends and priorities, and has been developed by the Destination Partnership which included representatives from the private, public and third sectors.

A Member said there seemed to be a lack of information leaflets promoting Blaenau Gwent available in other tourist areas, and asked whether there were plans to address this moving forward, and also more information for the local community.

The Officer said there were a number of leaflets available, however, due to the Covid pandemic establishments were reluctant to stock them.  However, some postal deliveries of leaflets had been undertaken, and information on local walks etc. was available on the Blaenau Gwent website.  The Officer confirmed that an electronic version of the Blaenau Gwent Destination Guide was currently in the process of being upgraded, and once completed would be circulated.  She undertook to e.mail a copy of last year’s Guide to Members for information.

A Member commended the work of the Team, but felt that the Communications Section could be more proactive in promoting the work of the Team.

In response the Officer said most of the communications for the Team was done through Southern Wales, and hopefully in due course when restrictions are lifted, promotion of tourism within Blaenau Gwent would continue.

A Member said he was disappointed with a number of areas within the report, namely:

·        The reference to ‘good transport links’, in light of the fact that the Scrutiny Committee had agreed to develop a Task and Finish Group to look at transport provision within the Borough.

·        Page 38 ‘expanded locations and installed public counters’, he enquired as to the location of the counters.

·        Reference to local events, he questioned why the Remembrance Parade was included as this was an annual event, but other key events that regularly took place had been omitted.

·        P.39 where it referred to a new Ebbw Vale Business Group, and said he was not aware of this Group.

·        Accommodation within the Borough and whether they were subject to regular checks.

·        The condition of the Cholera Cemetery at Cefn Golau, and lack of signage and information.

·        Whether the proposed information boards on walkways had been installed.

The Officer responded was follows:

·        Extra counters had been installed on walking routes and managed and maintained by the Countryside Section.

·        Transport provision – the dualling of the Heads of the Valleys road, the X4 Bus Service and development of the train network were considered beneficial to bringing visitors to Blaenau Gwent.

·        The Ebbw Vale Town Centre Group - at the time of the report being prepared, the Officer was working with the Group on a number of ideas, but the Group had since disbanded.

·        Accommodation establishments were graded by Visit Wales and all proprietors were encouraged to register with them, and those serving food were checked by Environmental Health.

·        The events section referred to the posters that were prepared by the Team, and whilst the Remembrance Events were not considered a tourist attraction the Officer had a duty to provide information to the local community as well as visitors. 

·        The Cholera Cemetery was the last remaining in Wales and was a listed structure.  There were brown signs directing to the site, and information provided.  Security fencing was in place, and also links to Tredegar Museum. 

·        The provision of information boards on walkways was not under the remit of the Team, but the Officer confirmed that some had been installed on the Ebbw Fawr Trail and Parc Bryn Bach this year.

In relation to the Member’s concern regarding public counters, the Team Manager Regeneration Opportunities explained that this was part of the work of the Town Centre Task & Finish Group.  The previous footfall counters in our Town Centres were unreliable in terms of data, but also a number of shops had closed since they had been installed.  However, a new contract had been procured to look at alternative locations for the counters, and discussions were ongoing with the Company and the Council’s Streetlighting Section to consider installation on streetlighting columns.

Another Member referred to the Action Plan, particularly culture and heritage, and referred to the Blue Plaque initiative that was developed a number of years previous to commemorate influential figures from Blaenau Gwent.  He said the project was successful at the time, and suggested that the Committee consider reinstating this initiative.

In response the Destination Management Officer agreed that it was successful, and the concept of the project was in some ways being taken forward by the Blaenau Gwent Heritage Forum.  The Officer said she would be happy to liaise with the Forum on this matter, however, funding was crucial and the necessary applications to secure funding would need to be progressed. 

The Member also referred to the report of the Audit of Commemoration Task and Finish Group which was published on the 26^th November, 2020, and asked whether a report on the appropriateness of street names could be considered.

The Corporate Director Regeneration & Community Services confirmed that a review had been undertaken a report would be submitted in due course.

Another Member also expressed concern with the report and felt it needed to be fluid to take advantage of opportunities that may arise.  He said the report lacked attention in a number of areas, e.g. the fact that Blaenau Gwent was a gateway to the Brecon Beacons; greater reference to the steel industry in Ebbw Vale; links to the Chartist movement; and the NHS project and the links to the Tredegar Medical Aid Society.

He also referred to the Action Plan and pointed out that the lead for the majority of the activities was the Council.  He said the Team lacked the resources necessary, and felt that greater emphasis should be placed on partner organisations, and he referred to the NHS Project as an excellent example of working with partners, particularly Coalfields Regeneration and Cymru Creation, and expressed concern that they had been omitted from the report.

In response the Officer said the Action Plan did state other stakeholders, but undertook to include Coalfields Regeneration and other partners.  In relation to the NHS Project, she confirmed that feedback on the report was available in Bedwellty House some time ago, and 10 The Circle was one of the elements featured.  The Officer had supplied reports and imagery to Coalfields Regeneration for use in their interpretation planning and development, and the report would be submitted to Scrutiny in due course as part of the Forward Work Programme.

In response to a further question from a Member regarding the provision of a dedicated Blaenau Gwent tourism website, the Officer explained that it was Council policy to not have external free standing websites.  All information relating to tourism was available on the Blaenau Gwent website.

The Corporate Director Regeneration & Community Services said listening Members comments, he suggested that the report be reconsidered to provide clarity in terms of the Council’s work and that of partners, and also make a strategic link in the areas raised by Members.

The Committee AGREED that the report be DEFERRED.