Agenda item - The Creative Industries of Greater Brighton

Report of the Chair, Greater Brighton Officer Programme Board

That the Board:-

1)           Note the importance of CI and the approaches to date as set out in the report.

2)           Request a further report back once the two pieces of research data are complete and once the “Creative Coast” cluster has done further work on required strategic interventions.

3)           Encourage all relevant partner and funder organisations to grasp the opportunity of CI for both our local and national economy and to recognise the importance of the sector in strategic planning, investment, funding, procurement and operations.

6.1         The Board considered a report of the Chair, Greater Brighton Officer Programme Board that sought approval to commission two pieces of research on the Creative Industries in the Greater Brighton region and report back to the Board with those findings and proposed next steps.

6.2         Councillor Mac Cafferty stated that report was short on a sense of purpose and could have been underpinned by an investment prospectus. Councillor Mac Cafferty stated that the industry had proven to be a resilient one and that could inform other sectors. Councillor Mac Cafferty noted that Brighton & Hove was a location often used for filming and film production and asked if that could be expanded across the region given the number of attractions.

6.3         Dean Orgill stated that he was pleased to see reference to performing arts that was a strength in the region and often neglected in favour of a focus on digital technology. Dean Orgill stated that the performing arts should be included in any message on inward investment.

6.4         Nick Juba stated that the Creative Industries sector was one that required support and intervention and part of the reason why the sector had seen recent success was because of previous investment in art colleges. Nick Juba stated that the Greater Brighton Metropolitan College would be anything it could to help reignite that support and investment.

6.5         Prof Humphris stated her disagreement with the ‘more porous’ statement made at paragraph 6.8 as the universities had been as open and supportive of the Creative Industries as they possibly could be. Prof Humphris stated that the University of Brighton was ready to work with any of the Creative Industries and it should be considered that as low impact industry, it was under attack in terms of funding. Referring to the statement made at the last sentence of paragraph 4.8, Prof Humphris stated that this was very unhelpful and in poor taste.

6.6         Councillor Platts stated that she had professional experience in SME’s and in her view, it was important to consider what investment might look like, what research and development could go into co-work spaces and whether all businesses actually needed physical space and locations. Councillor Platts stated that the research should consider the potential for film space and whether that was something for the Board to consider investment in rather than wait for the industry to do so.

6.7         Councillor Lamb stated that the population of Crawley were not highly skilled and to build an economy for his residents, that would entail investment in light industry and education to improve skills. Councillor Lamb stated that the report proposals were overly focussed on a limited number of the region’s population and a small sector. 

6.8         In response to the various matters raised, Alex Bailey stated that a work was underway on the feasibility of creating a platform for film production in the region, that focus was not just on the digital industry and there was scope to bring culture and technology closer together, that investment in arts further education was a focus and awareness was high on the relationship and overlap between multiple sectors.

6.9         RESOLVED- That the Board:-

1)           Note the importance of CI and the approaches to date as set out in the report.

2)           Request a further report back once the two pieces of research data are complete and once the “Creative Coast” cluster has done further work on required strategic interventions.

3)           Encourage all relevant partner and funder organisations to grasp the opportunity of CI for both our local and national economy and to recognise the importance of the sector in strategic planning, investment, funding, procurement and operations.