Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy and the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure seeking a commitment from the City Council for future funding from to allow the Culture Trust to continue to develop the range of its activities and attract further, substantial, external funding into the City: agreement to explore the potential of sustaining a Gloucester Festivals Innovation Fund and approval to offer Kings House as a base for the Culture Trust’s Creative Workspace Hub and Music Studios for The Music Works.

RESOLVED:

(1)  to note the potential significant external funding opportunities opened by having an active, well-regarded, and successful Cultural Trust with a growing track record of delivery

(2)  to commit to providing further core funding of £100,000 over 3 years from 2020/21 and authorise the Corporate Director to enter into grant and service level agreements with the Gloucester Culture Trust.

(3)  to strategically review the effectiveness of the 2019/20 City Council Festivals & Events programme with a view to identifying the potential to commit to allocating a proportion of the budget towards a Gloucester Festivals Innovation Fund

(4)  to authorise the Corporate Director, after consultation with the Cabinet Lead Members for Regeneration and Economy and Culture and Leisure and the Solicitor to the Council, to negotiate terms and conclude leases with the Gloucester Culture Trust and The Music Works in each case for a term of 20 years from completion and at a peppercorn rent, and upon such other terms and conditions as the Corporate Director considers appropriate.

Cabinet considered the report of the Leader of the Council, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy and the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure that sought a commitment from the City Council for future funding from to allow the Culture Trust to continue to develop the range of its activities and attract further, substantial, external funding into the City, agreement to explore the potential of sustaining a Gloucester Festivals Innovation Fund and approval to offer Kings House as a base for the Culture Trust’s Creative Workspace Hub and music studios for The Music Works.

The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure reminded Members of the high level of active engagement in and commitment to culture in Gloucester in comparison to other local authorities and how it benefitted the whole of the city.  He commented that the proposed facilities to support local artists would be groundbreaking for Gloucester and enable Gloucester’s cultural offer to move even further forward in future.  The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy advised Members that the use of the Regeneration Investment Fund was appropriate as the proposals satisfied the fund objectives as did the use of Kings House which had been empty for many years under private ownership.  The Cabinet Member for Environment informed Members that he had noticed a marked growth in cultural activities in Gloucester in recent years and commented that improvement required investment.

RESOLVED:

(1)  to note the potential significant external funding opportunities opened by having an active, well-regarded, and successful Cultural Trust with a growing track record of delivery

(2)  to commit to providing further core funding of £100,000 over 3 years from 2020/21 and authorise the Corporate Director to enter into grant and service level agreements with the Gloucester Culture Trust.

(3)  to strategically review the effectiveness of the 2019/20 City Council Festivals & Events programme with a view to identifying the potential to commit to allocating a proportion of the budget towards a Gloucester Festivals Innovation Fund

(4)  to authorise the Corporate Director, after consultation with the Cabinet Lead Members for Regeneration and Economy and Culture and Leisure and the Solicitor to the Council, to negotiate terms and conclude leases with the Gloucester Culture Trust and The Music Works in each case for a term of 20 years from completion and at a peppercorn rent, and upon such other terms and conditions as the Corporate Director considers appropriate.