‘ The Way Ahead’, (590KB PDF) EMRA’s Scrutiny Panel Review into emda and East Midlands Tourism’s (EMTs) performance in delivering the Regional Tourism Strategy was published in January 2006.

The Panel consisted of;

Chair: Cllr Peter Valentine, Oadby and Wigston Borough Council

Mike Ballantyne, Heart of the National Forest Foundation

Jez Goodman, Northamptonshire County Council

Cllr Roger Begy, Rutland County Council

Cllr Milan Radulovic, Broxtowe Borough Council

Vernon George, Institute of Directors

The review made six recommendations to support improvements, they are;

RECOMMENDATION 1

In order to set a clear strategic framework:

a) emda and EMT should continue to promote the strategic integration of tourism development into the wider economic development activities and plans of emda and other regional/sub-regional organisations and agencies. This should be reflected in the RES, emda’s Corporate Plan and the plans of the other key organisations as appropriate.

b) EMT should further clarify with partners;

• The process for potential refinements of the Regional Tourism Strategy

• Its relationship with EMT’s Corporate Plan

• How Destination Management Partnerships (DMPs) and other partners will be fully involved in steering its development.

RECOMMENDATION 2

DMPs are fundamental to the delivery of the Tourism Strategy. In order to develop an effective delivery model that maximises the contributions of all key partners, EMT should agree a plan with DMPs to enable them to take more of the delivery function thereby supporting EMT to focus on its strategic role. The plan should provide for an appropriate level of resources for DMPs to support their enhanced role.

RECOMMENDATION 3

To promote a stable delivery model for tourism development in the region, the Panel supports EMT in its capacity building work for DMPs and its plans to work closely with other key partners, including Local Authorities, in undertaking a full review of the longer term financial sustainability of DMPs. Building on the review, EMT should establish rolling three year funding plans that identify:

a) The level of resources allocated to DMPs against expected outputs and outcomes

b) How the different profile of DMPs and the sub-regions are reflected in the allocation of funding

c) How other funding, such as that from Local Authorities, can enhance the effectiveness of DMPs.

RECOMMENDATION 4

To deliver the maximum value of tourism projects to benefit the region, emda and EMT should review how tourism is considered within the Tasking Framework, their project appraisal criteria and performance monitoring mechanisms in order to ensure that they are concise and further support the aims and goals of the Regional Tourism Strategy. Such arrangements should be clearly communicated to DMPs and other partners, including Local Authorities, potentially through Local Government East Midlands.

RECOMMENDATION 5

In order to secure the essential buy-in of all key partners to delivering the Regional Tourism Strategy:

a) emda, EMT and DMPs are encouraged to focus on securing better relationships with all partners by emphasising how a successful tourism sector can contribute to partners’ objectives. It is suggested that emda, EMT and DMPs prioritise their relationships with Sub-regional Strategic Partnerships (SSPs), Local Authorities and the private sector whilst being aware of the organisational sensitivities of each relationship.

b) EMT should develop better board-to and executive-to-executive engagement with SSPs and develop a shared understanding with SSPs of how the benefits of tourism development should be integrated into SSPs’ three year plans. Partners such as Government Office East Midlands should be usefully involved as appropriate.

c) SSPs, Local Authorities and the private sector should also accept the need for modernisation to take full advantage of a dynamic and changing tourism market place in order to derive the full benefit of the new model for tourism development.

RECOMMENDATION 6

To provide a clear and stable long-term framework for optimised delivery of the Regional Tourism Strategy:

a) emda and EMT should establish a Forward Plan for the EMT–DMP model that both reflects the further development of DMPs and clarifies the role of EMT as a partnership rather than a principal agent, and

b) DMPs and Local Authorities should embrace change and, in partnership with EMT, work in new and challenging ways to modernise structures and delivery arrangements.

In March 2006, the Regional Scrutiny Board considered the Action Plan (40KB PDF) developed by emda and EMT. In October 2006 the RSB considered emda and EMT’s Progress Report (50KB PDF) and in April 2007 the RSB considered emda and EMT's  Final Assessment Report (80KB PDF).