Agenda item

Town Hall Tours

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Clifford)

 

Report of Chief Officer (Regeneration & Planning)

Minutes:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Clifford)

 

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Regeneration & Planning) which had been produced at the request of Councillor Barry and proposed new arrangements for Town Hall tours in Lancaster Town Hall. 

 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

 

 

Option 1: Provide Town Hall tours

Option 2: Do not provide Town Hall tours

Advantages

Better use of the Town Hall, as a public building, by visitors and local communities

 

Increased profile for Lancaster as a visitor destination, as a result of higher profile events

 

Improved recognition of the Town Hall as an important historical building in an English Heritage City

 

Potential for income generation for the Council

 

Efficient use of existing staff resources and skills

 

Building management arrangements simpler, as fewer public visits and events taking place

 

Visitor marketing resources can be used for alternative campaigns

 

 

Disadvantages

Greater public access would directly lead to an increased security risk for the building

 

Would take a large number of our events spaces out of action for one afternoon per week preventing bookings that may offer a greater financial reward

 

Future building works are envisaged that could prevent access to some areas of the building. Adequate windows in the tours to allow completion of the works would need to be planned or there could be potential for complaints, refunds and the like.

 

Lost opportunity to increase use of the Town Hall by visitors and local communities

 

Lost opportunity to enhance Lancaster’s profile as a visitor destination and as an English Heritage City

 

Less awareness of the Town Hall’s historical and heritage value

 

Loss of potential income

 

Risks

Low level financial risks exist as expenditure is required where income is not guaranteed.  Quality of the tour experience and good marketing and promotion will help to minimise this risk.

 

There are currently several disabled access challenges within the building that could potentially have legal implications. 

 

The tours could prove to be unpopular but the resources necessary to make them to happen would still need to be accounted for.

 

 

 

The Officer preferred option was Option 1, which increased access to and use of Lancaster Town Hall, within manageable costs and with the potential for income.  

 

Lancaster Town Hall is an exceptional heritage building with facilities that do not exist elsewhere in the district. The report describes a number of ways in which the Town Hall can be made more available to visitors and those who live and work locally. This also raises the profile of Lancaster, supports the visitor economy, delivers an economic impact and generates income for the Council.

 

Councillor Clifford proposed, seconded by Councillor Smith:-

 

“That the recommendation, as set out in the report, be approved.”

 

Councillors then voted:-

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

(1)  That Cabinet approves the proposals outlined in the report for development and delivery of Town Hall tours at Lancaster Town Hall.

 

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Chief Officer (Regeneration & Planning)

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

The decision is consistent with the Corporate Priority of Sustainable Economic Growth, the outcome ‘Lancaster … will be recognised as (an) important visitor destination’ and the success measure ‘visitor numbers and spend will be increased.”  The decision enables arrangements for the tours and events described in the report to be developed and initial tours and events to be staged.  All tours and events will be reviewed to establish their viability on an ongoing basis.

Supporting documents: