Items
No. |
Item |
1. |
Chair's Welcome, Apologies and Substitutes and Declarations of Interest
Minutes:
The Chairman welcomed Members, officers, and guests
to the meeting.
Apologies had been received from Cllrs Nick Worth,
Jacqueline Burnett, Cath Homer, Brigid Jones and Karen
Rampton.
Cllr David Jeffels attended the meeting as a
substitute.
No declarations of interest had been
received.
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2. |
Minutes of the last meetings (includes extraordinary meeting)
Minutes:
The minutes of the meetings held on 17 March 2021 and
24 March 2021 were agreed as an accurate record.
Action:
-
With regards to the first action point within the
‘Support for Councils on Leisure Services’ item, which
was submitted to the CTS Board meeting on 17 March, officers agreed
to re-circulate information related to Leisure Services to Cllr
Julian German.
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3. |
Theatres Trust (presentation)
Minutes:
The Chair welcomed Jon Morgan, Director –
Theatres Trust, to the meeting and invited him to present to the
Board.
Jon provided a brief introduction to Theatres Trust
and updated Members of the Board on what work could be undertaken
locally, the aims and objectives of Theatres Trust, the current
state of theatres, post-covid and long-term concerns, ongoing
projects, and government’s planning white paper. He stated
that he could provide additional information to Members of the
Board outside of the meeting in relation to research
findings.
Members made the following comments:
-
We must continue to do all that we can to support
the re-opening of theatres post-Covid as they contribute
significantly to local economies.
-
In many areas, there are concerns which relate to
the re-opening phase of performance venues of all sizes regarding
capital and revenue funding. Are you having conversations with
government about the potential bringing forward of legislation to
protect companies from creditors? We need some sort of legislative
protection over the next 12 months.
-
With regards to theatres and other performance
venues that are currently at risk of closure, do Theatres Trust
keep an ‘at risk’ register? And are Theatres Trust in
conversation with Arts Council/Mayors in relation to support for at
risk venues?
-
In light of the current financial pressures across
the country, Theatres need to reach diverse and disadvantaged
communities and promote the services that they provide.
-
Government need to consider all aspects of theatre.
It’s not just the act, it’s about the enjoyment which
contributes to mental health and wellbeing.
-
Cllr German suggested that reference to support for
theatres be included in the recommendations for item 4 (Arts
Council England’s Delivery Plans).
-
Board Members agreed that they would continue to
lobby government in relation to the planning white
paper.
Jon responded to the comments made by Board
Members:
-
At the moment, there are no conversations taking
place with regards to government bringing forward protection
legislation, but it’s an interesting area to explore in the
future. We are aware that protection of commercial leases will soon
come to an end, amongst others. Any data that Board Members could
supply in relation to the protection of commercial leases would be
welcomed.
-
It has been inspiring to see the number of theatres
that have repurposed their activity in the past year through
community engagement.
-
We keep a Theatres in Crisis list and at Theatres at
Risk list, local authorities are always contacted when theatres are
at risk and we work with the Culture and Risk team at the GLA
regularly.
-
I can share our submission with Board Members in
relation to government’s planning white paper if useful.
I’m optimistic that we can inject good provision into the
paper for cultural services and ensure that it is promoted and
protected.
Decision:
-
Board Members noted the report.
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4. |
Arts Council England's (ACE) Delivery Plans PDF 461 KB
Minutes:
The Chair
invited Lauren Lucas, Adviser, to introduce the report.
Lauren introduced the report which
highlighted the key aspects of Arts
Council England’s new delivery plan, which set out how ACE
would deliver the objectives of their
ten-year strategy ‘Let’s Create’, published in
early 2020, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. In relation to Cllr German’s point in item 3
(Theatres Trust presentation), Lauren provided reassurance and
confirmed that all of the planning submissions that Theatres Trust
had been making had been received and passed onto the LGA’s
Planning department.
Board Members made the following comments:
-
Within the papers of an Arts Council Board that I
attended this morning, the new delivery plan was explicit in
revising the shared statement of purpose with the LGA.
-
It would be interesting to hear more from the Arts
Council in relation to their EDI work and share best
practice.
-
Cllr Coghill had attended an Arts Council Regional
Board recently and fed back to Board Members: An excellent
discussion took place and the Board got to the heart of matters.
The relationship is very positive and helpful. The Board is really
welcoming a focus on diversity, gender pay gap and disability
issues. Although I am concerned that accessibility-related issues
may get lost so I wanted to raise it through this
Board.
-
In relation to improvement work within the LGA, does
that involve LGA peers? Are there any cultural specialists within
that group of cultural specialist leaders?
-
Lack of collaboration is not the main issue,
it’s the ACE’s failure to understand the importance of
local government and the role of local government. We need to
remind them of the importance of Arts and Cultural activities and
how much they mean to the country and the nation.
-
With regards to diversity, ACE need to focus on
deprivation in communities and access issues.
-
Cllr Henry referred to a cultural-led town centre
regeneration project in Stevenage and said: the first phase of the
project is £250k, and one of the flagship buildings that
we’re going to have is a central hub in the middle of town
which will include the library, gallery and exhibition space, a
café, police presence, GP surgery and other local government
and NHS providers. One of the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic
is that a lot of these organisations work much more
flexibly/virtually now, so do not need so much office space. We are
looking to re-locate our museum there too to ensure that it is
accessible. This project is a really good opportunity and the Arts
Council will find it helpful as well as the other positive work
taking place around the country.
- A lot of
change will be needed from the ACE in their new delivery plan,
there is a significant problem in terms of ACE’s interaction
with local governments.
-
Cllr Kelly referred to a blended library, museum and
art gallery in Preston and said: the project took over four years
of planning and commitment from the councils and investing in the
right ...
view the full minutes text for item 4.
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5. |
Update on work to support sport and physical activity services PDF 174 KB
Minutes:
The
Chairman invited Ian Leete, Senior Adviser, to introduce the
report.
Ian introduced the report which set out
the interim findings for the
‘Future of public sport and leisure’ research, the
emergency insourcing guide, work on the Moving Communities Platform
and engagement with the new National Sector Group for Sport and
Physical Activity.
Board Members made the following comments:
-
I would like to see more sports-related items
brought to this Board in future. I’m pleased that we have
linked this to Covid-19 recovery. Perhaps the report should
highlight the GP-referral side of things for the link between
physical and mental wellbeing.
-
We should continue to look at expanding the use of
the leisure centre.
-
In terms of the social value data, there is a lot
available through Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL). The climate
change ask has been referenced, but if we’re going to ask the
Treasury for £1b over a ten-year period, how are we
evidence-basing that?
Ian
responded to the comments made by Board Members:
- There is
an evidence base, APSE have undertaken some detailed modelling work
which can be shared with Board Members.
Decision:
- Board
Members noted the report.
Action:
- Officers
to circulate the detailed modelling work undertaken by APSE to
Members of the Board.
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6. |
Parkrun and Mass Events PDF 154 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Chair
invited Ian Leete, Senior Adviser, to introduce the
report.
Ian
introduced the report which provided feedback from Members about the restart of
events with large numbers of visitors, including
parkrun.
Board
Members made the following comments:
-
I am hopeful that when we meet with the Secretary of
State on 22 June, we can mention that we have had a Board meeting
and express our concern regarding DCMS’ lack of
involvement/communication, but also emphasise the need for
government to assist in relation to insurance to ensure that
individual authorities are not left with significantly large
bills.
-
With regards to government ensuring large events
such as music festivals, the clarity needs to be there.
-
During the Covid-19 pandemic, many more people were
out walking and cycling and using parks, we should encourage people
to continue this physical activity post-Covid and focus on getting
government to support our parks.
Cllr Coghill said that she would be happy to share
information related to parkrun in Waltham Forest with Member of the
Board if they would find it helpful.
Ian encouraged Board Members to contact him if any of
local councils were struggling with support for park run so that he
could put Members in touch with Chief Operating
officers.
Decision:
- Board
Members noted the report.
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7. |
End of year report and summer workplan PDF 370 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The
Chairman invited Ian Leete, Senior Adviser, to introduce the
report.
Ian introduced the
report which set out the key achievements of
the CTS Board in 2020-21. The report outlined the significant areas
of lobbying and communications work undertaken in 2020 to support
the sector’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and also set
out a short workplan for the Summer period, before the Board
reconvened in September 2021.
Board
Members made the following comments:
·
In terms of the summer workplan, it looks light at
the moment and we could add more work to be undertaken in coming
months, especially in relation to the £300m shortfall in
leisure services.
·
The Chair confirmed that an informal meeting of the
Board would take place on 1 July to feedback to Members on the
meeting between the Secretary of State and CTS Lead Members on 22
June.
·
We need to continue to focus on the media and
communications side.
Board
Members requested that their thanks to
officers for their hard work over the years be formally noted in
the minutes.
Decision:
- Board
Members noted the report.
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8. |
Outside Bodies PDF 361 KB
Minutes:
The Chair invited Emma West, Member Services Officer,
to introduce the report.
Emma introduced the report and stated that the
recommendation set out within the report
needed to be amended from:
“That the Members of the Culture, Tourism and
Sport Board:
1.
agree the list of outside bodies;
and
2.
agree appointments to outside
bodies”
to:
“That the Members of the Culture, Tourism and
Sport Board:
1.
note part A of the report (CTS Outside
Bodies Background and Appointments Process 2020/21);
and
2.
note part B of the report (Report back
on member meetings since 20 January 2021).”
The following updates were provided from Outside Body
Appointees:
-
Cllr Henry: A trustees meeting took place in
March where we agreed and signed off the new organisational
structure, particularly the new way of working with the delivery
arm of London Marathon. London Marathon Events Limited (LMEL) also
explored the future delivery of the London Marathon and other mass
participation events. I attended the AGM in April and had a one to
one with the new CEO where we discussed both LMCT and the role of
the CTS Board and how we could work together in the future.
- Cllr
Hollis: As a Member of the Libraries Accreditation Board, we are
moving forward with the accreditation, there are a number of pilot
authorities (Northamptonshire, Reading and Suffolk) which will all
be taking part in the pilot programme. The LGA has envisaged to sit
as part of the Accreditation Board, Lauren Lucas and I will supply
more information to the CTS Board going forward. The business of
the Arts Council will oversee the individual accreditations
themselves, very similar to the role they undertake with other
activity that the LGA is involved in. If any Member would like more
information in relation to this, please contact me.
Ian Leete confirmed that there had previously been
LGA representation on the British Broadcasting Film Classification
Council, although the structure had since changed, and it was no
longer a formal meeting. He said that given the Board’s
interest in Theatre at this moment in time, a Theatres Champion
could be appointed to directly liaise with Theatres Trust and UK
Theatre to carry out improvement work.
Decision:
- Board
Members noted part A and B of the report.
Action:
- Officers
to look to appoint a Theatres Champion to work alongside Theatres
Trust and Theatres UK and carry out improvement work.
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9. |
Any other business
Minutes:
The Chair
expressed his sincere thanks to all Board Members and officers for
their hard work and contributions over the last year.
Emma West, Member Services Officer provided a brief
update to Board Members in relation to planning for
a smooth transition to hybrid working and use
of 18 Smith Square post-Covid.
Decision:
-
Board Members noted
the updates.
Action:
-
Officers to send a
survey e-mail to Board Members in relation to their working
arrangement preferences post-Covid.
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