Colwyn Bay councillor questions funding of town manager

Oct 6 2011 by Mari Jones, North Wales Weekly News

THE future of Colwyn Bay’s town centre management is being called into question by the local council.

“A luxury we can’t afford” is how the position of town manager is being described by one disgruntled councillor.

Bay of Colwyn town councillors were due to discuss their share of the funding for the role at a meeting behind closed doors last night, at the request of Old Colwyn councillor Chris Perry.

The town council gives £10,000 a year towards the role, which is currently occupied by Ingrid Lewis, who has been town manager for the past 10 years.

Her duties include developing a good working relationship with businesses and attracting more tourism to Colwyn Bay, Old Colwyn, Rhos on Sea and Colwyn Bay’s West End.

Since the management role was created, highlights have been a series of French markets held in the town, the St David’s Festival parade, which has become an annual event and attracts support from local schools, while a notable success this year was the Art on the Fence community art project, which won an Action for Market Town award.

Last Christmas funding was also secured for a Christmas parade in the town led by schoolchildren.

But despite these, and other, achievements, Cllr Perry remains unimpressed, and believes town council funding should be pulled.

He said: “This isn’t a personal attack on Ingrid Lewis, but I just don’t think we need a town manager.

“Llandudno and Conwy don’t have one, and I believe the money would be better spent elsewhere.

“I’d like to see it put towards an ice rink so we could give something back to the people of Colwyn Bay.

“A town manager is a luxury we simply cannot afford.”

Another town councillor, who didn’t wish to be named ahead of the council meeting, said: “I can’t see how having a town manager has improved the town. Mrs Lewis is supposed to extend her duties to the West End, Old Colwyn and Rhos on Sea, but most business owners there don’t know who she is.”

Mrs Lewis also oversees the Shop Watch committee tackling crime against businesses, while one of her biggest successes has been with Colwyn in Bloom. This year Colwyn Bay won Best Large Town in the Wales in Bloom competition for the tenth consecutive year.

In a report given to the town council earlier this year, Mrs Lewis stated: “The town manager is now an integral part of the Bay Life regeneration team and is involved in many of the project groups.

“Town management is seen as a fundamental part of the regeneration programme within the Bay Life team. There is now a far greater need for active marketing of the town for investment and Bay Life activity.”

Mrs Lewis gave this comment to the Weekly News: “I’m not in a position to comment on town council matters. I’m sure they will advise us of the outcome of their deliberations in due course.”

The total budget for Bay of Colwyn Town Management is £46,870, which includes a marketing budget, office expenditure and support services as well as salary and related employment costs, some of which is also funded by Conwy County Council.