Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed Members to the Board meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Muhammed Butt, Barrie Grunewald, David Phillips, Peter Golds, Blake Pain, Greg Smith, Flick Rea, Mike Bell and Amanda Martin.

The Board were very sorry to learn of the passing of Cllr Sir William Lawrence and stood in silence for a few minutes as a mark of respect for him and his family. The Chair said that Sir William had made a huge contribution to the work of the CTS Board and the LGA.

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 2014 were agreed as an accurate record.

Councillor Simon Henig, Leader Durham County Council and Vice-Chair of the CTS Board, welcomed Members to Durham and gave a presentation on Durham’s cultural, sporting and visitor economy offer. The key points were as follows:

• From the outset, Durham County Council has focussed on economic growth and culture, tourism and sport has always played a key role. In particularly, tourism is one of the fastest growing local economic sectors with attractions ranging from the Durham Dales to the Cathedral and Castle
• Culture, tourism and sport makes an important contribution towards all of the themes in Durham’s corporate plan, Altogether Better Durham
• Durham’s bid to be UK Capital of Culture stimulated new partnerships and ideas, so that even though Durham did not win the competition, 2013 was designated a year of cultural events. A particular highlight was the Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition, which attracted 100,000 people to a new purpose built exhibition space, and boosted the local economy by £8 million. The hugely successful Lumiere Festival, which attracted 117,000 visitors and generated £5 million of economic benefits in 2013, is returning to Durham in late 2015
• In 2013, Durham also hosted its first Ashes international cricket test, which was worth £20 million to the local economy
• The councils’ approach to sport links it to civic pride, health lifestyles and attracting visitors
• There is also a strong focus on community engagement. Durham’s 14 Area Action Partnerships are awarded funding for community-led projects, including cultural events. For example, 30,000 young people were involved in a young people led music cooperative, which developed from a community music festival. 70 Volunteer Makers were involved on the Ashes Test and volunteers help to run the cultural events
• A Magna Carta exhibition, the Changing Face of Revolt, will open in Durham this summer
• Durham’s success is underpinned by Visit County Durham’s very successful marketing campaign

The Chair thanked Councillor Henig for his excellent presentation. Discussion focussed on the visitor economy and Members noted the variety of models for supporting the visitor economy. These range from in-house teams to public-private Destination Management Organisations and private sector led arrangements. Members agreed it would be useful for the LGA to draw upon VisitEngland’s work and map and share different approaches to the visitor economy.

Action

Officers to map and share different models for Destination Management Organisations.

The Chair introduced the report, which took stock of the LGA’s 100 Days campaign and how culture, tourism and sport stood to benefit from its programme for radical reform of public services and local government funding.

As part of this item, the Chair also drew Members’ attention to Cllr David Sparks’ exchange of letters with Ministers about the allocation of European Structural Investment Funding (ESIF) for 2014-20. The LGA is extremely concerned that the 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships will have an advisory, rather than strategic role. This will mean LEPs and local partners have less ability to influence ESIF priorities across policy areas, including the visitor economy.

The Board welcomed the report and the attached correspondence on European funding and were keen to maximise opportunities for culture, tourism and sport to benefit from the LGA’s campaign. Members made a number of comments:

• Councils already have the necessary levers to make progress on some of the policy proposals highlighted in the 100 Days document, such as giving volunteers a council tax discount.

• There are elements of the fiscal devolution agenda that could make a big difference to the visitor economy, in particular the localisation of business rates.

• Noted that tourism businesses are running an impactful campaign to reduce VAT on tourism.

• It is early days for devolution and no surprise that conversations have been dominated by transport, infrastructure and the economy.

• The Board could help by mapping opportunities for culture, tourism and sport from Combined Authority and similar arrangements.

Decision

The Board noted the report.

Action

Officers to take forward the CTS Board’s work programme in line with Members’ steer and map opportunities for culture, tourism and sport from devolution.

The Chair introduced the report, which updated Members on current issues of interest to the Board not covered elsewhere in the agenda. Updates were included on:

·         Physical activity and sport

·         Heritage

·         Libraries

·         Visitor Economy

·         Culture and Arts

The Chair updated Members that since the Board papers were published, the Warwick Commission into Cultural Value had launched its final report. The LGA gave evidence to the Commission and made the case for councils’ significant investment in, and support for, culture. The final report recognised the local dimension to cultural policy and the positive and impactful work councils are leading. The report also challenged all public bodies and cultural organisations to do more to widen participation in culture.

Decision

Members noted the report.

Action

Officers to circulate a link to the Warwick Commission report into Cultural Value.

The Chair introduced the report, which updated members on meetings of CTS Outside Bodies and other Member meetings since the December Board.

In particular, Members noted the feedback from the Chair’s meeting with Ed Vaizey MP, Culture Minister, when they agreed priorities for the Libraries Task and Finish Group.

The Board also noted and thanked Councillor David Burbage MBE for giving oral evidence to the Culture, Tourism and Sport Committee’s inquiry into the visitor economy. Councillor Burbage said that he highlighted councils’ important role leading attractive and safe places with a great cultural, sporting and heritage offer that will attract visitors. The Select Committee also asked for further information on the LGA’s position on visa reform, and this was addressed by follow-up correspondence.

Decision

Members noted the report.

There were no other items of any other business.