Issue - meetings

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Clifford)

Report of Director for Economic Growth and Regeneration

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Clifford)

Cabinet received an exempt report from the Director of Economic Growth and Regeneration to determine the Council’s position with regard to the Dukes new business model. The report was exempt from publication by virtue of paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the exempt report.

Councillor Clifford proposed, seconded by Councillor Pattison:-

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

Councillors then voted:-

Councillor Whitehead having declared a non prejudicial interest in view of her being a patron of the Dukes, did not take part in the discussions or vote.

Resolved:

(7 Members (Councillors Blamire, Burns, Clifford, Hanson, Hughes, Pattison and Warriner) voted in favour).

(1)          That support measures that could potentially be used to support the development and delivery of the Dukes new business plan, as detailed in the exempt report, be approved.

(2)        That support for the Dukes is approved, in principle, with final decisions to be delegated to the Director for Economic Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder. Any funding or service support is subject to the fiduciary duty of the statutory officers and reasonable conditions to protect the Council’s investment.

(3)        That the current annual grant to the Dukes is maintained at its current level for 2019/20, noting that future funding is subject to review as part of the usual annual budget processes.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Director of Economic Growth and Regeneration

Reasons for making the decision:

Culture and the services delivered by the Dukes directly contribute to the Council Plan under a Thriving and Prosperous Economy and Health and Happy Communities.              A number of cultural organisations in the country are currently facing financial challenges as public funding reduces and it is clear that protecting and developing cultural services, and all of the outcomes that they deliver, will require solutions that go beyond simple public funding.  The focus of the Dukes, working with ACE and the Council has been to tackle the current difficulties but in a way that will allow the Dukes to develop its role and programme again in the future, with a focus on the many benefits that can be delivered for this area and its communities.