Agenda for Culture, Recreation & Tourism Cabinet Member Meeting on Tuesday, 9th June, 2009, 4.00pm
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Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 205 KBVenue: Committee Room 1, Hove Town Hall. View directions
Contact: Caroline De Marco, Democratic Services Officer
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Procedural Business
(b) Exclusion of Press and Public - To consider whether, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, or the nature of the proceedings, the press and public should be excluded from the meeting when any of the following items are under consideration.
NOTE: Any item appearing in Part 2 of the Agenda states in its heading either that it is confidential or the category under which the information disclosed in the report is exempt from disclosure and therefore not available to the public.
A list and description of the categories of exempt information is available for public inspection at Brighton and Hove Town Halls.
Minutes: 1a Declarations of Interests
1.1 There were none.
1b Exclusion of Press and Public
1.2 In accordance with section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (the Act), the Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism considered whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during an item of business on the grounds that it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press or public were present during that item, there would be disclosure to them of confidential information (as defined in section 100A(3) of the Act) or exempt information (as defined in section 100(I) of the Act).
1.3 RESOLVED - That the press and public be not excluded from the meeting.
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Minutes of the previous meeting Minutes of the Meeting held on 5 May 2009 (copy attached). Minutes: 2.1 RESOLVED - That the minutes of the Culture, Recreation and Tourism Cabinet Member Meeting held on 5 May 2009 be agreed and signed by the Cabinet Member. |
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Cabinet Member's Communications Minutes: Visit Brighton
3.1 The Cabinet Member reported that Visitbrighton had achieved 281 signed up partners so far this year. The partners contributed to the marketing of the destination and ensured the City and local tourism businesses continued to prosper. The team had a target of 280 partners, having achieved 265 in 2008, and was delighted to have achieved this in an otherwise difficult economic climate. There were, however, many more businesses who could become signed up partners and help promote the city and deliver the visitors from which they would benefit. The Cabinet Member urged any business who was not a partner of Visitbrighton to join. Visitbrighton hoped that by the end of the year they would have over 300 partners.
Corporate Games
3.2 The Cabinet Member was delighted that the City played host to the UK Corporate Games last weekend and that over 3,000 participants stayed, played and took part in 23 different sports. The Cabinet Member stressed that despite holding this event in the middle of a national recession it was great that so many companies were persuaded to send athletes and that they were so obviously attracted by the City and the city’s outstanding sporting facilities. The results of this were fantastic for Brighton; with Sussex University winning the Basketball and Brighton University winning the Volleyball.
Brighton Festivals
3.3 The Cabinet Member reported that the Brighton Festivals were continuing to get better and bigger each year reaching more local people through free events, attracting tourists to the city, appealing across more and more local communities and attracting significantly more national press. The Cabinet Member particularly enjoyed the work of guest artistic director Anish Kapoor with over 80,000 people enjoying his collection of six pieces. More than 10,000 made the pilgrimage to the Chattri to see C Curve which was featured across the nationals. It was also exciting to see the municipal market being used so creatively during the Festival pointing the way to the new development at Circus Street which has culture at its heart.
3.4 The Cabinet Member also enjoyed the Erpingham Camp on Brighton Pier. This was the first time the pier had been used for the Festival and indicated the new approach that the Festival was taking building bridges with venues and businesses across the city. Erpingham Camp was featured in the Independent and Radio 4.
3.5 The Festival Fringe was larger and more successful than last year increasing its number of events from 600 last year to 700 this year, including exciting new venues at St Andrews Church and above shops and pubs across the city. The Fringe increased its number of free outdoor events with a particularly successful Fringe Street day on the last weekend which filled New Road and Jubilee Square with smiling crowds.
3.6 The return of the Spiegeltent in Old Steine was also very well received by audiences and the city council worked hard with the producers to ensure that the site would be returned in a much better condition than in previous years, which was achieved and was a further testament of how well the council could work in partnership across the city to balance the needs of residents and visitors.
3.7 The Artist Open Houses had a new strand of curated work called House which included special exhibitions at the Regency Town House, Lighthouse and the Permanent Gallery. Feedback has been very positive from these new venues.
3.8 The Great Escape – the music festival and industry showcase that takes place on the 3rd weekend of May – was also very successful. They managed to increase their audience numbers to 12,500 and the council’s Licensing department had said they were extremely impressed with the good management of the festival.
Extreme Sports
3.9 The Cabinet Member reported that he had attended the launch of Extreme Sports which would be held in September on the seafront. The RAF and admiralty would be in attendance. The Red Arrows would be flying and the public would have the opportunity to be taken to an aircraft carrier and be brought back by helicopter.
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Items reserved for discussion (a) Items reserved by the Cabinet Member
(b) Items reserved by the Opposition Spokespersons
(c) Items reserved by Members, with the agreement of the Cabinet Member.
NOTE: Public Questions, Written Questions from Councillors, Petitions, Deputations, Letters from Councillors and Notices of Motion will be reserved automatically. Minutes: 4.1 RESOLVED – That the Museum Plan be reserved for discussion.
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Report of the Acting Director of Strategy & Governance (copy attached).
Minutes: 5(i) Petition – Jubilee Library Shelving
5.1 The Cabinet Member considered the following petition presented at Council on 19 March 2009 by Councillor Kennedy and signed by 72 people:
“We, the undersigned call upon the council to publicise details of much needed, ample, well filled shelving in the Jubilee Library, as requested in the recent petition, so that the place is no longer described as a ‘non-book’ library.”
5.2 The Cabinet Member responded as follows: “The Jubilee Library could never be described as a ‘non-book’ library by anyone who knows anything about the library, its stock and its services. There are over 170,000 items of stock in the library, with around 35,000 items on loan at any one time. According to the latest CIPFA statistics, Brighton and Hove Libraries have the third highest numbers of books per 1000 population compared with similar authorities, with 1,871 books per 1000 population, compared with an average of 1,577.
5.3 The Jubilee Library design included as many shelves as was needed to accommodate the stock, and to deliver the range of services required. The space between shelves and the height of the shelves are at the correct levels to meet accessibility standards, so that disabled people can move around the building easily and reach the stock on display.”
5.4 RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.
5(ii) Petition – Request for Longer Hours and Increased Stock – Portslade and Hangleton Libraries
5.5 The
Cabinet Member considered the following petition presented at
Council on 19 March 2009 by Councillor Hamilton and signed by 60
people:
5.6 The Cabinet Member responded as follows: “Hangleton and Portslade Libraries are both open longer hours than all other community libraries in the city, being open 38.5 hours over six days every week. Hangleton Library has around 14,000 items of stock, and Portslade around 17,000 items, both of these are higher figures than other community libraries.
5.7 The Libraries Plan, which was unanimously supported at full council in January, has set out our commitment to continue to improve our Libraries Services, including reviewing community libraries opening hours and seeking ways to increase the number of books bought. Hangleton and Portslade Libraries will be included in this planned review of opening hours.”
5.8 RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.
5(iii) Petition – Request for Longer Hours and Increased Stock – Whitehawk and Rottingdean Libraries
5.9 The Cabinet Member considered the following petition presented at Council on 30 April by Councillor Turton and signed by 101 people:
“Happy as we are for Patcham residents that they will now enjoy longer library hours, we must ask the council to publicise news of any progress achieved by a previous request for Whitehawk and Rottingdean libraries to have longer hours and increased stock”
5.10 The Cabinet Member responded as follows: “It is worth noting that Whitehawk Library is already open longer hours than Patcham Library, being open 27 hours per week over four days, and has over 16,000 items of stock – more than most of our community libraries. As mentioned in my response to the last petition, the Libraries Plan, approved at Council in January, has set out our commitment to continue to improve our Libraries Services, including reviewing community libraries opening hours and seeking ways to increase the number of books bought. Whitehawk and Rottingdean Libraries will be included in this planned review of opening hours.”
5.11 RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.
5(iv) Petition – Request for Preservation Treatment to the front of Hove’s Carnegie Library
5.12 The Cabinet Member considered the following petition presented at Council on 30 April 2009 by Councillor Davis and signed by 116 people:
“Glad as we are that Hove’s Carnegie Library is now open on a Monday afternoon, we urge that its front be given preservation treatment and funding sought for the re-instatement for the historic much-missed cupola.”
5.13 The Cabinet Member responded as follows: “The cost of renovating the stonework at the front of the building is expensive. And we are currently investigating the possibility of HLF funding to contribute towards the cost of improving Hove Library facilities. Putting together a viable funding plan for this level of restoration work takes time, and the costs remain high as these works were not included in the refurbishment work instigated by the last administration.”
5.14 RESOLVED – That the petition be noted.
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Public Questions (The closing date for receipt of public questions is 12 noon on 2 June 2009)
No public questions have been received by the date of publication. Minutes: 6.1 There were none.
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Deputations (The closing date for receipt of deputations is 12 noon on 2 June 2009)
No deputations have been received by the date of publication. Minutes: 7.1 There were none.
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Letters from Councillors No letters have been received.
Minutes: 8.1 There were none.
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Written Questions from Councillors No written questions have been received. Minutes: 9.1 There were none.
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Notices of Motions No Notices of Motion have been received by the date of publication.
Minutes: 10.1 There were none.
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Museum Plan
Report of Director of Culture and Enterprise (copy attached). Additional documents: Decision: (1) That Cabinet be recommended to agree the Royal Pavilion & Museums Strategic Forward Plan 2009-2012.
(2) That the Cabinet Member Meeting receives an update about Renaissance funding in due course. Minutes:
11.1 The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Culture and Enterprise which presented the Royal Pavilion & Museums Strategic Forward Plan 2009-2012 (for copy see minute book). The Plan set out the Council’s vision for the service, building on the recent successes, and outlining the priorities and objectives for the next three years, in the context of the overall plans and ambitions for the city. The Plan demonstrated how the Royal Pavilion & Museums supported the Corporate Priorities and contributed to the key strategies for the city, including the Local Area Agreement and Corporate Plan.
11.2 The Head of Museums & Royal Pavilion highlighted the key aims for the division for the next three years as set out in paragraphs 3.3. Paragraph 3.4 set out the key areas in terms of priorities. Consultation on the plan had included a workshop held for the Culture, Tourism and Enterprise Overview & Scrutiny Committee in January 2009. The Plan would be subject to continual review, monitoring and updating.
11.3 Councillor Davis considered the plan to be of a high standard and supported developing audiences. However, she expressed concern about the reliance on Renaissance funding. She stressed that the funding position was less certain after 2011. She asked for confirmation that the funding was in place for 2009-2011. The Head of Museums & Royal Pavilion confirmed that funding was definitely secured for the period 2009-2011. Funding after that period was subject to review.
11.4 Councillor Davis made the point that it was clear that there needed to be investment in a number of areas such as IT and disabled access. She asked if the Cabinet Member Meeting could receive updates about Renaissance Funding, in addition to the report to the CMM and Culture, Tourism & Enterprise Overview & Scrutiny Committee on an annual basis. The Head of Museums & Royal Pavilion confirmed that an update could be given to the CMM when the review was completed. She stressed that a great deal of work would be completed by 2011. Meanwhile, she considered it important to develop a fundraising unit, and that museums across the UK were being encouraged to become less reliant on government funding such as Renaissance.
11.5 Councillor Davis asked about Invest to Save. The Head of Museums & Royal Pavilion explained that this was a Council initiative which was enabling the Division to modernise its business systems to maximise its earned income through the development of new booking and ticket systems and a web link for online sales.
11.6 The Cabinet Member asked how much Renaissance funding had been provided nationally. The Head of Museums replied that the South East hub alone had received approximately 12 million for the period 2009-2012.
11.7 RESOLVED – Having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendation:
(1) That Cabinet be recommended to agree the Royal Pavilion & Museums Strategic Forward Plan 2009-2012.
(2) That the Cabinet Member Meeting receives an update about Renaissance funding in due course. |