Issue - meetings

To be advised of a bid for funding under the Arts Council’s Creative People Places Fund and to consider whether this Council should explore acting as the host for the development officer.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That it be acknowledge that, if the bid is successful, this Council will continue to be a member of the Core Consortium, overseeing the project for the next 4 years and shaping the community engagement and related outcomes; and

(b)     That it be agreed that the Council should explore the possibility of being the employing body of a potential project lead officer to oversee the delivery of the programme as part of this Council’s community engagement programme.

The Cabinet was advised that the Arts Council England had invited this Council to apply to the Creative People Places Fund, in competition with 4 other local authorities in the southwest region, to secure funding to promote greater involvement in art and culture within the local population.  These aims were consonant with the Council’s objectives around community engagement and empowerment.  Up to £1.2 million, over a 4 year period, could be secured by a successful bid.

Although the Council could not be the lead applicant, it has set up the necessary consortium to deliver the bid and develop a programme of community engagement and cultural activity. The existing membership of the consortium was set out in paragraph 2.5 of the Report to the Cabinet.  The bid had been submitted by “Energise Me”, an Active Partnership, one of 43 nationally funded by Sports England and part of the strategy of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. 

If the initial bid was successful the consortium would be invited to an interview, leading to a decision by 7 August 2019.  Implementation was in 2 phases, with development of the programme taking about 6 months, followed by the implementation period.

Members were advised that the bid had been submitted by the deadline on 21 March 2019.  Should the bid be successful, this Council would need to consider whether it wished to host the employment of the project lead officer.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That it be acknowledged that, if the bid is successful, this Council will continue to be a member of the Core Consortium, overseeing the project for the next 4 years and shaping the community engagement and related outcomes; and

(b)     That it be agreed that the Council should explore the possibility of being the employing body of a potential project lead officer to oversee the delivery of the programme as part of this Council’s community engagement programme.