Issue - meetings

Approval of the new South Holland Cultural Strategy and support the Cultural Framework for the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (report of the Director – Economic Growth enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Director – Economic Development which sought approval of the new South Holland Cultural Strategy and support of the Cultural Framework for the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership.

The Leader presented the report, and the following issues were raised:

·       The Strategy went a long way to identify and explain what culture was, and its spread.  It would help residents to live happier, fulfilled lives.

·       The Strategy was good however, it was disappointing that whilst larger settlements were referenced, little mention was made of smaller towns and villages in the district.  Not all significant sites were included or were only mentioned in passing e.g. the Abbey and bridge at Crowland, and not all groups appeared to have been consulted.

o   The Leader agreed with this comment.   Whereas previously culture had been considered on its own, it was now being linked more with funding and economy, and there were important links to the Growth and Prosperity Plan. 

o   The Assistant Director – Economic Growth advised that the National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) that was providing funding to all three areas of the Partnership had commissioned a cultural audit to ensure that all cultural organisations, businesses and assets across the Partnership were captured.  The document would be a live document and could be amended once this audit had been completed.

DECISION:

1)    That the South Holland Cultural Strategy (attached at Appendix B) be adopted.

2)    That delegation be given to the Assistant Director for Economic Growth, in consultation with the Leader, Cllr Nick Worth, to make minor amendments to the South Holland Cultural Strategy.

3)    That the Executive Summary as a Cultural Framework for the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (attached at Appendix A) be supported.

(Other options considered:

·       Arts Council England had provided the funding to create the Cultural Strategy, therefore it was a requirement of the funding to produce the strategic document, as had been the case in Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council.

Reasons for decision:

·       A formally adopted Cultural Strategy and agreement of priority actions would provide South Holland District Council with the cultural principles to be reflected in each place. In addition, the Cultural Framework would support funding applications, increase engagement with art and culture and facilitate greater connectivity with Art and Cultural organisations. The adoption of a similar document by Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council had already helped the SELCP to gain Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation status and it was this funding that had supported the writing of the South Holland Cultural Strategy.

·       The ambition of the Framework and associated NPO status supported a wider cultural and place- based approach to regeneration and linked culture with community engagement to support our Partnership objectives, reflecting the principles of the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Growth and Prosperity Plan).

Consultation on the new Cultural Framework (Strategy) for South Holland and the addition of an executive summary that provides an overarching strategic framework for the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership, linking the existing Cultural Framework for East Lindsey District Council and Boston Borough Council (report of the Director – Economic Development enclosed). 

Consideration was given to the report of the Director – Economic Development which consulted on the new Cultural Framework (Strategy) for South Holland with the addition of an executive summary that provided an overarching strategy framework for the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership, linking the existing Cultural Framework for East Lindsey District Council and Boston Borough Council.

The Assistant Director – Economic Growth attended virtually to introduce the report which included:

• Background in respect of S&ELCP’s Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) status;
• Details of the consultation process;
• The ‘Cultural Framework for Renewal’ overarching document at Appendix A;
• The ‘South Holland Cultural Strategy’ at Appendix B, which comprised the following four themes:
  • Culture For All;
  • Cultural Infrastructure;
  • Cultural Places; and
  • Culture, Health and Wellbeing.

Members considered the report and made the following comments:

• Members welcomed both documents and stated the importance of having a distinct cultural strategy for South Holland as well as the overarching framework for the partnership.

• Members asked whether any funding implications for the south of the county were anticipated as a result of the recent devolution announcement for Greater Lincolnshire.
  • The Assistant Director – Economic Growth responded that:
    • Cultural investment through devolution was supported across Greater Lincolnshire; and
    • As a result of work (being) undertaken, such as the NPO relationship with ACE and the development of the Cultural Framework, the partnership was in a beneficial position to identify areas of strength and those where additional support and funding could be sought.

• Members queried whether the document was editable in order to ensure it remained current and correct.
  • The Assistant Director – Economic Growth agreed that, as a strategic document, the Cultural Framework needed to be responsive and to this effect proposed that an additional recommendation to Cabinet be included which delegated powers to the Assistant Director – Economic Growth, in negotiation with the Portfolio Holder, to make relevant updates to the document on an annual basis.
    • Members agreed with this proposal.

AGREED:

a)    That the comments of the Policy Development Panel in respect of  the proposed Cultural Framework Strategy, prior to its consideration by Cabinet, be noted; and

b)    That an additional recommendation to Cabinet, which gave delegated authority to the Assistant Director – Economic Growth, to update the document annually, in negotiation with the Portfolio Holder, be noted.