Agenda item

To consider the report by the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure on the Festival and Events Programme.

29.1    The Chair welcomed the Councillor Lise Noakes (Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure) and Jill Shonk (Head of Cultural and Trading Services) who provided an overview of the report.

29.2    Councillor Noakes advised that the criteria for Council-funded Festival and Event activities had been in place and reviewed annually since 2010. She stated that the Council wanted a robust events programme and expected to put on a series of popular and engaging activities. She further advised that £15k had been ring-fenced for flagship events such as the History Festival for which the Council contributed £10k. She highlighted that Marketing Gloucester (MGL) was very successful at gaining sponsorship for events.

29.3    Councillor Noakes brought to the Committee’s attention the difficulties in funding for the Council but that it was working well with external partners. She highlighted that the Great Place initiative was helping move Gloucester from a ‘cultural blackspot’ to a potential City of Culture. As such, it had been agreed to develop a portfolio of festivals and events.

29.4    It was stated that Cultural and Trading Services would define KPIs with MGL and 2018/19 would act as a pilot for these KPIs.

29.5    Councillor Noakes brought to the Committee’s attention the fact that an amendment would be made with regard to the RAF Centenary commemorations. She stated that a bigger contribution would be made by the Council.

29.6    Councillor Noakes stated that last year had seen a good programme and that considerable work had been undertaken to achieve this. She stated that the report before the Committee detailed a good amount and that partnership working was crucial so as that organisations other than the City Council and MGL were involved in putting the programme together.

29.7    Councillor Hilton highlighted to particular festivals – the 1100^th Anniversary of the death of Aethelflaed and the 375^th anniversary of the lifting of the Siege of Gloucester. He stated that he appreciated that these had been discussed but noted that the report was silent. He stated that he expected that more information and that Members would have more input.

29.8    Councillor Hilton noted, in response to an intervention from Councillor Patel which stated that Members did not usually receive detailed plans, that these were two unique events.

29.9    Councillor Noakes responded that details had been given at the recent Council meeting and that further information will be provided as and when it arises.

29.10  Councillor Hilton shared his view that the Gloucester Go Retro event was a very good event and understood that Councillor Organ had put a great deal of effort into it. He continued that its funding source required a resolution and noted that last year, Members had contributed – something Councillor Hilton did not feel was appropriate. Councillor Noakes stated that she was unsure of the position regarding Members’ contributing and that funding sustainability was always a priority.

29.11  With regard to Gloucester bidding to become City of Culture, Councillor Hilton queried how confident the Cabinet Member and Officers were of putting a bid in. He further queried whether they thought it would be successful and the costs that would be associated with it.

29.12  Jill Shonk advised that consideration of placing a bid was part of the Cultural and Trading Services service plan and the Corporate Director was leading on the feasibility of such a bid. She further advised that plans would need to be in place by 2021 for a 2025 bid.

29.12  Councillor Hawthorne shared his view that it was positive to see how much had been done by way of cultural engagement. He stated that the Council should be examining this in terms of viewing success through attendance numbers. Councillor Noakes outlined the pilot of KPIs and Jill Shonk confirmed that it would include both numbers and types of attendances.

29.12  Councillor Pullen stated that it was disappointing that clear aims and objectives could not be actioned immediately. He stated that the Council should look at other areas of Gloucester and have events in the programme to reflect the diverse communities of Gloucester. He shared the view that it was important that the Council made sure it was engaging people who would not usually be engaged. He also queried whether the pilot of KPIs would be across a handful of events only. Councillor Noakes confirmed that the pilot would be across all festivals and events.

29.13  The Vice-Chair raised a query with regard to the cancellation of Rugby in the Park and whether the Council lost any money. She further queried what was in place to prevent this in the future. Councillor Noakes advised that no money had been lost and that the Council will discuss with other organisations on putting the event on. She agreed it was important to have sporting events in the city.

29.14  The Vice-Chair further queried the reduction in community based activities with regard to Art in the City. She questioned what could be done to prevent this. Councillor Noakes stated it may be possible to have more events run by artists themselves. She advised that the event was not on the funding list for 2018/19 and was likely to go ahead with sponsorship.

29.15  Councillor Hampson queried what could be done by the Cabinet Member and Cultural and Trading Services to reach out to other cultural groups in the City and what could be done to encourage diverse cultural events. Councillor Noakes responded that this was something that she would like to see more of and it was becoming a project through the South West Arts Board. She further stated that, if Members had ideas they should inform her of them. Jill Shonk advised that the History Festival Programme would include more such events and she would be looking at which audiences were being reached.

29.16  Councillor Patel stated that Members had a role in promoting engagement with diversity – Members, for example, are in contact with community leaders. He questioned how widely festivals and events are promoted ward-by-ward. Jill Shonk highlighted that this would be addressed through the Great Place Programme and that MGL did considerable amounts of publicity.

29.17  Councillor Hampson suggested that the Committee RECOMMEND to Cabinet that para 4.1 be amended to include specific reference to encouraging a diverse range of cultural groups to initiate and participate in events. This was agreed by the Committee.

29.18  Councillor Hilton stated that it would be helpful to grow feature events for tourism purposes and suggested that another festival around the docks be considered. Councillor Noakes noted that there were increasing numbers of visitors from abroad and that it was an ambition to develop several signature events for the future.

29.19  RESOLVED: That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

(1)  RECOMMEND to the Cabinet that that para 4.1 of the Festival and Events Programme report be amended to include specific reference to encouraging a diverse range of cultural groups to initiate and participate in events, and;

(2)  NOTE the Festival and Events Programme 2018/19 and update on progress 2017/18.