Council agree to fund review of regional tourism bodies

At present Coleraine Borough Council works with the Causeway Coast and Glens Regional Tourism Partnership and the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust.

The review will access value for money, efficiency and effectiveness of the two groups in the roles they carry out on behalf of Council.

Members attending last Tuesday’s Policy and Development committee meeting at Cloonavin were scathing of the work carried out by tourism bodies with too many doing similar jobs.

Independent councillor Christine Alexander said: “We should have one body. 90 percent of the information people need is duplicated by each of the bodies. There is money being wasted.”

Tourism Manager, Peter Thompson told the councillor that the review was necessary to assess if they were fit for purpose.

Coleraine Mayor, councillor Norman Hillis agreed saying: “This is all very complicated, and there is lack of delivery from each of the bodies.”

In a reply to councillor Hillis about the cost of the review Mr Thompson said the total would be 10,000.

But he added that the Tourist Board was funding half of the cost and the rest would be split between the other councils in the cluster area, so the cost to Coleraine Council itself would be 600.

The Mayor added: “The powers that be need to take on board the frustrations we have. We are just going round in circles, we need clarity so let’s make the money available and get on with it.”

DUP councillor Timothy Deans agreed with the previous speakers: “We have some of the biggest events in the country here in the borough, and they are marketed across the world by our own office and they do a great job.

“We don’t need all these layers. It’s strikes me as a jobs-for-the-boys situation.”

Alderman Hickey proposed that Council should go ahead with the review at a cost of 600.

On being put to a vote, Alderman Hickey’s proposal was carried. Councillor Alexander voted against the proposal.