Issue - meetings

To consider the Graffiti and Street Art Management Policy 2022 to establish Street Art in South Holland to provide safe and welcoming public spaces for our local communities (report of the Deputy Chief Executive – Communities enclosed).

The Panel considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive – Communities to consider the Graffiti and Street Art Management Policy 2022 to establish Street Art in South Holland to provide safe and welcoming public spaces for our local communities.

The Chairman of the Graffiti and Street Art Management Policy Task Group introduced the report and thanked the outgoing Interim Deputy Chief Executive – Communities, the Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture, Councillor Bingham, Councillor Gibson, Councillor McClean and Councillor Rudkin for their work on the production of the policy. The following main points were raised:

• the policy had been drafted and reviewed by all members of the Task Group and relevant officers;

• consultation had taken place with the relevant Portfolio Holder, the Civic Society and Spalding Town Forum;
• Spalding Town Forum had supported the proposed test artwork;
• the policy stated that testing of the street art would take place on boards erected on fencing at the rear of the Castle Complex, and at the public toilets on the Castle Complex site;
• proposed ‘environmental’ and ‘mental health’ artwork themes had received majority support by Spalding Town Forum and concept slides were presented to the Panel;
• consultation and engagement with members and residents of the district would follow, with feedback to be included in the document going forward to Cabinet and Council; and
• the policy would be reviewed in September 2022.

The Chairman thanked members and officers of the Task Group for their expeditious work on the new policy.

Members considered the policy and raised the following points:

• Members enquired about the course of action to be taken if a difference of opinion regarding the artwork occurred between the Parish Council and site owner.
  • The Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture replied that consultation and agreement of the Parish and/or Spalding Town Forum would take place. The artists would be asked to produce visualisations to assist with the process. Should the artwork not conform to the concept, the right existed within the policy for it to be removed. 
  • The Chairman of the Graffiti and Street Art Management Policy Task Group stated that consultation feedback had confirmed that appreciation of art was subjective, and therefore acceptance of any such proposal would be an officer decision. As part of the decision-making process, the officer would consult with relevant individuals and organisations for their opinion. Any activity not approved as street art would be classified as graffiti and dealt with according to the policy.

• Members referred to the steps of the policy and asked if project timeframes had been discussed.
  • The Chairman of the Task Group stated that project timeframes had not been set and would be dependent upon individual cases and sensitivities.
  • The Assistant Director – Leisure and Culture agreed and stated that as artwork scopes could be broad, a bespoke approach was necessary, and some cases would require increased consultation. Proposals could come forward from Transported Arts, part of Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places Programme, or other bodies, and every  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53