Agenda item - Discussion on the City's emerging Cultural Strategy

Paula Murray; Commissioner, Culture.

117.1 Paula Murray (Commissioner for Culture and Assistant Chief Executive) identified the main reasons why it was important for the city to refresh its cultural strategy.

117.2 The current strategy was out of date; it had some good content but needed to be updated. There had been major changes both locally and nationally in terms of funding and some major developments locally that needed to be reflected in a new document. For example there were major plans for Circus Street (dance centre), Brighton Dome working more closely with Brighton Pavilion and expansion at Brighton University.

117.3 The financial climate was also something that needed to be now reflected in an updated strategy.  There had been cuts to public funding for cultural activities and there could be more to come.

117.4 There were also a range of new priorities in the city which needed to be incorporated; the WHO Age-Friendly City application raising the agenda for older people in Brighton & Hove for example, employment, drug use, alcohol-related harm, children and young people, vulnerable families and particular health issues such as obesity and mental health.

117.5 An estimated 10 -11% of jobs and 20% of businesses in the city relate to culture. The special importance of culture – why people come to Brighton & Hove and stay here - helped the local economy to thrive as part of the overall tourism industry that brought in around £730 million a year to the city. 

117.6 Other strategies linked with Culture - the Seafront Strategy and Sports Facilities Strategy were currently being consulted on. 

117.7 The Commissioner Culture said the overarching ambition of the strategy was to ‘make people’s lives better’ or ‘improve life for everyone’.  The strategy would be structured under just three major themes of jobs, engagement and wellbeing. She asked OPC to suggest where there were gaps, where ‘things weren’t happening,’ and how to create opportunities for participation or volunteering and make the most of the social capital of older people.

117.8 OPC members saw the strategy as a means to help combat social isolation that many older people in the city face.  It was pointed out that many older people would like to volunteer if the opportunity arose to do so; that would benefit the health of the older person and the community as a whole. Greeters were generally older people with life experience who had particular skills and knowledge, including specialisms such as archaeology.

117.9 Members commented that Brighton was viewed as mainly a city for young people and warned against the perception that older people – around 47,000 City residents over 60 years of age – could be excluded from activities. As older people’s personal budgets are being squeezed, many are priced out of entertainment such as theatres.  Discounts and concessions for activities for older people would be helpful

117.10 Schemes such as the Duke of York’s ‘Silver Screen’ were successful and council members suggested it would be of mutual benefit if other venues could introduce similar schemes aimed at older people. The ‘grey pound’ could extend the City’s summer tourist season into October and beyond and buildings with spare capacity could be taken up eg for more daytime community activities.

117.11 Concerns among the members included the reduction in sports facilities or programmes for older people with the example of the recent closure of some bowls clubs given.  The example of free swimming for all over 60s was also given as an example of good practice in other local authority areas. In addition, older people may tend to live on the outskirts of the city; limited mobility and transport to venues could be barriers to attending events in the city centre. Signage for venues – such as the Old Market, could be improved.

117.12 Members commented on the success of former twinning programmes with European towns; exchange visits gave older people opportunities for trips abroad that they would otherwise not embark on. It was felt that there was scope for closer working with the EU and internationally, for example following the London Olympic games.

117.13 It was noted that the OPC had not worked with Europe since an initial visit to Denmark when the OPC was first formed. There were still opportunities for applications for Interreg funding.

117.14 Members discussed the role and audience of ‘Grey Matters’ radio broadcasts and the importance of creating a verbal archive of older peoples’ memories.

117.15 Councillor Bowden commented that The Keep had resources to record verbal history and needed people to come forward with their memories. More needed to be done to harness the energy and enthusiasm of older people, who had a special role to play in volunteering eg in museums, libraries and the visitor economy, he said. Councillor Bowden agreed that attending matinee performances would be more cost-effective for people on a fixed pension and felt that some venues would be willing to try new ways to attract older visitors.

117.16 Councillor Rob Jarrett said he would like to be involved in a ‘Grey Matters’ broadcast and would look to spread the word. Similarly he said, an ageing population was a rich source of interviews and programmes on Local TV.

117.17 The Chair Jack Hazelgrove was pleased with a most animated discussion on the cultural strategy and invited the speaker to a future meeting, as the strategy developed.