Agenda item

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure which updates Members on the progress that has been made in achieving the Cultural Strategy’s targets from January to June 2015 and which includes an action plan to show the planned activity from various stakeholders from July through to December 2015.

The Chair welcomed Councillor Noakes, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, and Mr Martin Shields, Corporate Director, to the meeting.

Members were presented with a report which updated them on progress made in achieving the current Cultural Strategy’s targets from January to June 2015.  The report also incorporated an action plan detailing planned activities from various stakeholders for the period July to December 2015.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee was asked to consider the information contained in the report and make any recommendations it considered appropriate to the Cabinet.

Following presentation of the report, Councillor Noakes referred to the recent Michael + Partners report and explained the importance of drawing up a new and up to date cultural strategy to enable the City Council to attract funding from the Arts Council.  Members were advised that an Interim Culture Board had been set up to kick-start the process. 

Councillor Noakes explained the tight timescales and challenges posed by the process of creating a new strategy and implementing the recommendations in the Michael+ Partners report and welcomed the assistance of Overview and Scrutiny Members with the project.

The Committee discussed the following matters:-

1.       It was noted that Overview and Scrutiny Members would act as consultees          on any new strategy, but not in a task and finish group role.

2.       A Member sought clarification on Cabinet portfolios for heritage and culture as there appeared to be a cross-over.

3.       A Member observed that whilst events were increasing at the Guildhall there had been some recent cancellations and asked for information.  The Corporate Director agreed to supply statistics to the Committee.

4.       A Member queried whether Councillor Noakes had considered sponsorship for events as it was unrealistic to expect the Council to be able to fund all of them.  Councillor Noakes confirmed that sponsorship options were being explored.

5.       A Member remarked that the report was positive and upbeat and asked Councillor Noakes to thank the staff at the Guildhall for their efforts.

6.       A Member commented on the temperature and acoustics in Blackfriars.  The Corporate Director responded that Blackfriars was a seasonal venue which was popular in the summer, particularly for weddings. He added that the Council acted as custodians of the buildings for English Heritage.

7.       A Member recommended that e-ticketing should be considered when procuring any new ticketing system for venues.  As part of the discussion it was noted that the ticketing system at the Aspire Trust would continue to be separate.

8.       A Member sought clarification on the opening times for the Fanzone during the forthcoming Rugby World Cup.

9.       A Member referred to the plethora of different groups which all appeared to have the same membership and said it was important to diversify representation on these groups as much as possible.  Councillor Noakes agreed with this comment and added that there would be consultation on the new strategy with a wide range of stakeholders.

10.     A Member asked if there was a strategy for defining which buildings were clad in the City Centre.  Councillor Noakes explained that this was not part of her portfolio.  As a result of the discussion, the Committee decided to request a report from the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy for a future meeting.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.