Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed existing and new Members to the Board meeting and considered it important that Members worked closely together and contributing towards tasks and focus on issues, helping and driving through the Culture, Tourism and Sport agenda in England and Wales.

Declarations of Interest

Members of the Board declared an interest in Item 3 as they were members of their LEP’s,

Decision

Members noted the membership of the Board and Terms of Reference.

The notes from the last meeting were approved.

Matters Arising

It was noted that all actions from the last meeting were completed except the following:

LGA- led Betting Commission

Cllr Rea advised that the final meeting of the Commission would be held next week and she would report back  to the meeting on progress.

The report sought a steer from Members on the Board’s work programme for 2014-15. Members requested that the Work Programme should include a higher profile and emphasis of the work of the LEP’s.

Cllr Burbage said it was important that Members had oversight of work on the Design and Built Environment. Additionally, Members agreed that it was best to involve all Members of the Board during the course of the year on key issues.

Action

Members requested a report to the Board meeting on 2 December 2014 in relation to LEP’s or to invite a representative to attend the Conference between 3-4 March 2015.

Decision

Members noted the report.

The report updated Members on latest policy developments regarding the visitor economy and sought Members’ steer on follow-up actions. They also expressed concern about the tight deadlines for a response to the Government’s Triennal Review of VisitEngland and VisitBritain. (31 October) and written evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s inquiry on Tourism (29 September). Cllr Burbage requested that before any response to the consultation was given by the Board, a draft response should be circulated to all Board members for comment.

Action

Lead Members on the Board would sign off the submissions for the Triennal Review and Culture, Media and Sport Committee following e-mailed comments from Board members.

Decision

Members noted the report.

The report updated Lead Members on latest LGA activity and in particular its bid to the Magna Carta 800^th Committee for funding to run the “Magna Carta 800: Local Leadership, Local Liberties” project that would aim to engage every English and Welsh Council in the anniversary.

Members noted the report and considered that this initiative should be supported as a vital part of Britain’s freedoms in demonstrating that no one was above the law. In addition, this would provide an opportunity to consider its impact on tourism for the anniversary.

Action

It was noted that Cllr Rea as the previous Chair of the Board had written to Sir Robert Worcester (Chairman of the Magna Carta 800^th Committee) and the Rt. Hon Sajid Javid MP (Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport) in July 2014, to reinforce the relevance of the anniversary to Councils across the country and to emphasise the need for effective coordination in order to maximise the benefits. To date, a response from the Secretary of State had not yet been received. The Chair asked that reminders were sent with deadlines for responses.

Members noted the report concerning the update on the CTS Annual Conference to be held in Durham on 3 and 4 March 2015.

Action

The Board requested that LEP’s should be included in the Conference agenda and that Chief Officers from the LGA should also be invited to the Conference.

The report provided Members with an opportunity to feedback on recent meetings of outside bodies at which they have represented the Board and the Chair’s report to the Councillors’ Forum was attached.

A list of Outside Bodies was circulated to the meeting and representatives were appointed as follows:

a)    Parliamentary All Party Leisure Group (Conservative): Cllrs Blake Pain or Doreen Stephenson (it was noted that this may not meet at all).

b)    National Youth Libraries Board (Labour)- to be confirmed

c)    British Board of Film Classification- Consultative Council- (Conservative): Cllr Sir William Lawrence, Bt.

d)    Tourism Alliance (Labour): Cllr Sonja Crisp (to be confirmed) and attending the meeting on 23 September 2014.

e)    British Destinations (Independent): Cllr Amanda Martin

f)     Local Authority World Heritage Forum (Labour): To be confirned

g)    Magna Carta 800^th Committee (Conservative): Cllr Peter Golds

Lead Members agreed that following the meeting they would discuss outside bodies within their groups and inform officers within the LGA of final nominations.

Action

Lead Members to circulate final nominations of the outside bodies to officers.

Decision

Members noted the report.

This report updated Members on current issues of interest to the Board, not covered elsewhere on the agenda.

Call for ‘Obesity Action Fund’

The Chair referred to this item at paragraph 21 of the report. The Board had a discussion on this matter and it was felt that “healthy eating” needed to be encouraged and further discussion could be undertaken.

This report updated Members on current issues of interest to the Board, not covered elsewhere on the agenda.

Paul Raynes, Head of Programmes, informed the Board that the LGA had been approached by Royal Mint to help facilitate local museums in showcasing old coins.

Decision

Members noted the report and requested to receive an overview of what Local Authorities had been undertaking on the World War I Centenary Commemorations

Action

Ian Varah would provide a report for a future meeting of the Board.

Members noted the report, which was the Chief Cultural and Leisure Officers’ Association (CLOA) case studies paper.

Action

Ian Varah advised that the next Case Studies paper would report back on the First World War commemorations.

AOB was as follows:

Sport England

Ian Varah (CLOA) referred to Sport England undertaking a promotional marketing campaign. This was intended to cover a wide range of areas, particularly relating to encouraging women to participate in sport.

Decision

Members noted the report.

Action

Ian Varah would provide an update to the Board at a later date, as part of future agenda items.

Invitation to Round Table Meeting

The Chair advised the Board that he had received an invitation to attend a High Level Round Table meeting concerning “Using assets and capabilities of arts and cultural organisations to build resilience of people and communities and limit dependency on social and media care.” This will take place on 14 October from 11 am- 2pm at the Sunley Pavillion, Royal Festival Hall.

Decision

It was agreed that Cllr Burbage would attend on the Chair’s behalf