Agenda item

Item of Urgent Business - Referral from the Festivals and Events Cabinet Liaison Group

Minutes:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Shirley Burns)

 

The Corporate Director (Regeneration) submitted a report seeking Cabinet’s support for recommendations from the Chair of the Festivals and Events Cabinet Liaison Group.

 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment, were set out in the report as follows:

 

Option

Advantages

Disadvantages

Risks

1, To support the recommendations of the Chair of the Festival and Events Cabinet Liaison Group in respect of the Festivals and Events programme for 2009/10, as set out in the report.

The above will provide for a mixed programme of Festivals and Events in 2009, throughout the District.

The above represents a total expenditure of £74,800 from the 2009/2010 proposed budget allocation.

Unsuccessful implementation – failure to meet objectives.

Reductions to budgets later in the budget process, preventing delivery and giving rise to associated reputational risks.

 

2, Not to support the recommendations of the Chair of the Festival and Events Cabinet Liaison Group in respect of the Festivals and Events programme for 2009/10, as set out in the report

A revenue saving of £74,800 from the 2009/2010 proposed budget allocation, and opportunities to generate further savings associated with support costs.

No City Council programme of Festivals and Events in 2009

Potential reputational damage and possibility of an adverse response from external funding agencies that support other elements of the Cultural programme within the Lancaster District.

 

Option 1 is the Officer preferred option in that it provides for a balanced programme of core and FIF supported Festivals and Events in 2009/2010.

 

It was moved by Councillor Burns and seconded by Councillor Archer:-

 

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

 

By way of amendment in place of recommendation (3), which was accepted as a friendly amendment by the mover and seconder of the original proposition, Councillor Gilbert proposed and Councillor Kerr seconded:

 

“(3)      That the £2,000 set aside for advertising and the remaining balance of £2,400 be removed from the fund”.

 

By way of further amendment, Councillor Fletcher proposed, and Councillor Barry seconded:-

 

“(1)      That the 4 core events that cover Lancaster and Morecambe be approved (the Heritage Gala, Lancaster Jazz Festival, Bands in Happy Mount Park and Fireworks Spectacular)

 

(2)        that other Festivals Innovation Fund grant allocations for 2009/10 be referred to Star Chamber.”

 

Upon being put to the vote, 5 Members voted in favour (Councillors Barry, Blamire, Charles, Fletcher and Mace) and 4 Members voted against (Councillors Archer, Burns, Kerr and Gilbert) whereupon the Chairman declared the amendment to be carried.

 

Members then voted on the substantive motion as follows:-

 

Resolved:

 

5 Members (Councillors Barry, Blamire, Charles, Fletcher and Mace) voted in favour, 3 Members (Councillors Archer, Burns and Kerr) voted against and 1 Member (Councillor Gilbert) abstained.

 

(1)        That the 4 core events that cover Lancaster and Morecambe be approved (the Heritage Gala, Lancaster Jazz Festival, Bands in Happy Mount Park and Fireworks Spectacular)

 

(2)               That other Festivals Innovation Fund grant allocations for 2009/10 be referred to Star Chamber.

 

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Corporate Director (Regeneration)

Corporate Director (Finance and Performance)

Head of Financial Services

Head of Cultural Services

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

The decision will provide for a programme of core FIF supported Festivals and Events in 2009/2010.