Issue - meetings

(i)         to note the progress report from VisitAberdeenshire appended to this report;

(ii)        to note that a financial contribution to VisitAberdeenshire in 2018/19 is subject to the Council’s 2018/19 budget setting process;

(iii)       to delegate authority to the Head of Economic Development, the Head of Finance and the Head of Legal & Democratic Services to negotiate the 2019-2020 financial contribution to Visit Aberdeenshire, in line with a new contract, subject to the Council’s 2019/20 budget setting process;

(iv)       to note that details of the negotiated contract would be reported back to the Committee; and

(v)       to request that information in relation to the economic impact of the service delivered by Aberdeen Festivals be circulated to members.

With reference to article 5 of the minute of meeting of 1 December 2016, the Committee had before it a report by the Interim Director of Communities, Housing and Infrastructure which provided an update on the progress of VisitAberdeenshire in the period from 1 April 2017 to present. It covered Year 2 of the Council’s contract for the supply of Tourism Marketing Services and the objectives as set out in the contract schedule.

Mr Chris Foy, Chief Executive of VisitAberdeenshire was in attendance and answered a number of questions from members.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note the progress report from VisitAberdeenshire appended to this report;

(b)       note that a financial contribution to VisitAberdeenshire in 2018/19 is subject to the Council’s 2018/19 budget setting process; and

(c)       delegate authority to the Head of Economic Development, the Head of Finance and the Head of Legal & Democratic Services to negotiate the 2019-2020 financial contribution to Visit Aberdeenshire, in line with a new contract.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)        to approve the recommendations, subject to amending recommendation (c) above to add ‘subject to the Council’s 2019/20 budget setting process’;

(ii)       to note that details of the negotiated contract would be reported back to the Committee; and

(iii)      to request that information in relation to the economic impact of the service delivered by Aberdeen Festivals be circulated to members.