Agenda for Culture, Recreation & Tourism Cabinet Member Meeting on Tuesday, 28th October, 2008, 4.00pm
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Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 211 KBVenue: Committee Room 3, 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 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 exempt categories is available for public inspection at Brighton and Hove Town Halls.
Minutes: 31a Declarations of Interests
31.1 There were none
31b Exclusion of Press and Public
31.2 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).
31.3 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 16 September 2008 (copy attached). Minutes: 32.1 RESOLVED - That the minutes of the Culture, Recreation and Tourism Cabinet Member Meeting held on 16 September 2008 be agreed and signed by the Cabinet Member.
32.2 In answer to questions put by Councillor Davis, the Director of Cultural Services confirmed that negotiations were taking place with the Sea Cadets about the possibility of setting up a community development trust to manage the Foredown Tower. This would be one of the options to be reported back to the Cabinet Member Meeting and the Culture Tourism and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Director further reported that funding had not been obtained from SEEDA towards the Corporate Games. The organisers were happy to proceed with the games and the council would not be making a financial contribution. The council had now entered into a legal agreement with the organisers. |
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Cabinet Member's Communications Minutes: Young Writers Conference
33.1 The Cabinet Member reported that Young writers in Brighton & Hove would have an opportunity to win a year’s mentoring and advice from published authors as a prize in a new competition. Sixty secondary school pupils would be invited to submit work for the Write the Future! scheme, being run by Jubilee Library and the property management company LS Trillium.
33.2 Twenty pupils each from Varndean, Dorothy Stringer and Patcham High schools would attend an all-day Young Writers Conference at Jubilee Library on 25 November. They would have a chance to read and assess each other’s writing, with help from published authors. Their work would be submitted to a panel of judges who would select the three most promising writers for the Mentor Prizes.
33.3 Initial writing competitions to select the 60 participants were already underway in the three schools.
33.4 The best work would be published in an anthology in autumn 2009.
33.5 Write the Future! ispart of the National Year of Reading initiative
Visit to Liverpool
33.6 The Cabinet Member reported that he attended the Museums Association Conference in Liverpool at the beginning of October. He attended a number of key note speeches including ones given by Andy Burnham, Secretary of State, Department of Culture, Media and sport, Phil Redmond, Creative Director of Liverpool 2008 Capital of Culture and Sir Christopher Frayling Chairman of the Arts Council. The Cabinet Member also attended a number of seminar sessions including one on how museums support the delivery of local authority priorities. He was fortunate to be given a tour of the BT Convention Centre by the General Manager and make visits to a number of museums including the Tate, Liverpool and Merseyside Maritime Museum.
Brighton & Hove City Sports Awards 33.7 The Cabinet Member reported that the first Brighton and Hove City Sports Awards, sponsored by DC Leisure, were held on 2 October 2008 and 120 people gathered at Brighton Racecourse to celebrate sporting successes from across Brighton & Hove from over the past 12 months. Linked to the City Sports Forum and the Sussex Sports Awards, this would become an annual event in the sporting calendar for the city. 33.8 Sports clubs, groups and individuals, were invited to nominate in five prestigious award categories and the winners for 2008 included:
· Coach of the Year – Charlotte Burton (Sussex Cricket Board) · Volunteer of the Year – Marlene Oliver (Manor Road Gym) · Club of the Year - Preston Park Youth Cycling Club · Sports Personality of the Year – Ben Quilter (Judo Paralympian) · Special Contribution – John Tolhurst (Brighton & Hove Schools Rugby) 33.9 The Cabinet Member suggested that with an increased number of categories planned for 2009, people should keep an eye out for how to nominate someone who deserves to be recognised or contact the Sports Development Team for more information.
White Night 2008
33.10 The Cabinet Member reported that the initial headline evaluation figures were as follows:
· Initial estimates from the volume through the information point indicate that more than 10,000 people experienced the White Night festival.
· From 10.30pm till midnight all participating venues were at capacity and with patient queues outside.
· 1,115 took part in the late night swimming at the Prince Regent.
· 150 took part in the Journey On treasure hunt on bikes.
· White Night included 13 venues, 7 tours and trails, 2 art exhibitions, 11 light installations and a specially commissioned dance performance. Of these 32 events and activities 30 were free.
· Age ranges at all venues ranged from 2 to late 70s and feedback from all age groups has been overwhelmingly positive.
· Carluccios had their most successful evening ever in terms of turnover.
· The Tourist Information Centre reported significant numbers of visitors had come specifically for the White Night.
· The city felt noticeably safer until late into the night.
33.11 The Cabinet Member reported that he had thoroughly enjoyed the evening. He expressed appreciation to the staff that had been involved in organising the event.
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Items reserved for discussion (a) Items reserved by the Cabinet Member
(b) Items reserved by the Opposition Spokesperson
(c) Items reserved by Members, with the agreement of the Cabinet Member.
NOTE: Public Questions, Written Questions form Councillors, Petitions, Deputations, Letters from Councillors and Notices of Motion will be reserved automatically. Minutes: 34.1 RESOLVED – All items were reserved for discussion. |
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Public Questions (The closing date for receipt of public questions was 12 noon on 21 October 2008)
No public questions were received by the date of publication. Minutes: 35.1 There were none. |
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Written Questions from Councillors No written questions have been received. Minutes: 36.1 There were none. |
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Deputations (The closing date for receipt of deputations was 12 noon on 21 October 2008)
No deputations received by date of publication. Minutes: 37.1 There were none. |
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Report of the Director of Strategy & Governance (copy attached). Minutes: Request for an increase in the book stocks and opening hours of the City’s libraries
38.1 The Cabinet Member had before him the following petition presented at Council on 9 October 2008 by Councillor Hamilton and signed by 129 people.
“We, the undersigned call upon the Council to plan for a meaningful increase in the book stocks and opening hours of our City’s libraries as a matter of the first priority.”
38.2 The Cabinet Member replied to explain that the Libraries bookfund increased every year in line with inflation. Just as important as the size as the bookfund, was the level of discounts and the costs of purchasing new stock. Earlier this year the council negotiated the bibliographic services contract to get greater levels of discounts so that the council were able to buy even more books with the existing bookfund, achieving an estimated £130,000 of extra buying power.
38.3 As part of the proposed Libraries Plan, the council would be implementing a phased programme of reviewing library opening hours and making adjustments to more effectively meet local needs. This process would include consultation with the local community and ward Members. Any proposed changes would need to be affordable in the context of the Council’s overall priorities.
38.4 RESOLVED – That the petition and the Cabinet Member’s response be noted.
Request to commemorate the 1910 residence of Katherine Mansfield in Rottingdean
38.5 The Cabinet Member had before him the following petition presented at Council on 9 October 2008 by Councillor Davis and signed by 131 people.
“We, the undersigned, urge the Council to commemorate the crucial, 1910 residence of Katherine Mansfield in Rottingdean.”
38.6 The Cabinet Member replied to explain that Katherine Mansfield the famous short story writer stayed in Rottingdean during the time of Edward VII’s coronation and reference is made to her stay in a letter to her friend Sylvia Lynd in 1920, "I had an attack once - ten years ago - above a grocer's shop in Rottingdean". There was also a photograph of her taken by her friend Ida Baker during her visit to Rottindean in 1910. This could be seen on http://www.katherinemansfield.com/
38.7 There were no plans at present in the forthcoming public event programmes to commemorate Katherine Mansfield’s stay in Rottingdean in 1910.
38.8 Her stay could be commemorated by a plaque and this could be done by nomination to the Commemorative Plaque Panel which was chaired by John Small of the Regency Society. Further information on this could be provided by the City Council’s Head of Tourism, Adam Bates.
38.9 RESOLVED – That the petition and the Cabinet Member’s response be noted.
Request to replace the bronze statue of Steve Ovett
38.10 The Cabinet Member had before him the following petition presented at Council on 9 October 2008 by Councillor McCaffery and signed by 131 people. Councillor McCaffery attended the meeting and read out the petition as follows.
“In September 2007 the bronze statue of Olympic gold medal winner Steve Ovett was stolen from Preston Park and, although retrieved, damaged beyond repair. We the undersigned think this is a loss to the City’s sporting and cultural heritage, and therefore ask that Brighton & Hove Council replace the statue of this local hero.”
38.11 Councillor McCaffery stressed that the residents were very concerned about the loss of the statue. She hoped that the replacement would take precedence over some of the other statues suggested for the city. Councillor McCaffery suggested that the Mill Road entrance to the city or the Seven Dials could be possible sites for a statue. A mechanism for funding that statue could be found in the planning process.
38.12 The Cabinet Member replied to explain that as Cllr McCaffrey was aware from the answers given on this question by his colleague Cllr Geoffrey Theobald, the council did not have a commissioning budget to replace the Steve Ovett statue taken from Preston Park. There was no council budget for statues, memorials or public art, and park's maintenance budgets would not stretch to the costs of this kind of item.
38.13 Items of this kind are funded in 3 ways; · Through interest groups raising funding and undertaking the work commission, get consents and licences and any other necessary permissions - such as the AIDS Memorial project.
· Through lottery or other external funding being raised.
· Through the use of Section 106 funding for public art or public realm improvement.
38.14 The Cabinet Member was pleased to hear that there was so much public support for the replacement of the statue. Should there be Section 106 money forthcoming in a suitable location; the administration would prioritise it for replacing the statue. The Cabinet Member stressed that it was good to know that the administration would be able to call on both Councillor McCaffery’s support and that of the residents and interest groups she represented. The Cabinet Member would also be happy to work with any local/fundraising groups that might come forward.
38.15 The administration was delighted to celebrate the city's sporting success and have recently undertaken several exciting initiatives that do just that. The city's first Sports Awards were hosted earlier this month and have a programme of events and initiatives shaping up for the city, looking toward 2012. The Council raised the flag on the seafront this summer to celebrate the handover moment.
38.16 The Cabinet Member stressed that personally, he would really wish to see the statue replaced in Withdean Stadium, the city’s home of athletics, at the point at which the council were able to refurbish and renovate it to be a fitting Athletics Stadium and as part of marking that change.
38.17The Cabinet Member agreed to have a meeting with Councillor McCaffery to discuss this matter further.
38.18 RESOLVED - That the petition and the Cabinet Member’s response be noted.
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Letters from Councillors No letters have been received.
Minutes: 39.1 There were none.
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Notices of Motions referred from Council No Notices of Motion have been referred.
Minutes: 40.1 There were none.
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Matters referred for reconsideration No matters have been referred. Minutes: 41.1 There were none.
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Reports from Overview & Scrutiny Committees No reports have been received. Minutes: 42.1 There were none.
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Libraries Plan 2009-2012
Report of Director of Cultural Services (copy attached). Additional documents: Decision: (1) That the Libraries Plan 2009-2012 be agreed and forwarded on to full Council on for adoption.
(2) That the Libraries Plan 2009-2011 be forwarded to the full Council meeting on 29 January 2009, rather than the meeting to be held on 4 December 2008, in order to have a longer consultation period. Minutes: 43.1 The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Cultural Services which presented the Libraries Plan 2009-2012. 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 as a whole. The plan demonstrated how Libraries supported the Corporate Priorities and contributed to the key strategies for the city, including the Local Area Agreement and Corporate Plan (for copy see minute book). Seven priorities were identified for Libraries over the next three years. These were set out in paragraph 3 of the report. The plan had been developed with consultation with users, potential users and stakeholders. The consultation was summarised in Section 6 of the report. The plan had also benefited from the active involvement of members of the Culture, Tourism and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee, through a workshop held in September 2008. Changes had been made to the plan to reflect this.
43.2 The Cabinet Member noted that the Libraries Plan was one of the key strategic documents that required full council approval.
43.3 Councillor Davis expressed some concern about the chronology and consultation process. The consultation period was not long enough if the report was to go to Cabinet in December. The Head of Libraries stressed that a great deal of consultation had already taken place. She explained that the plan would not be written in stone. The intention was to continually reflect the views of the local community and interest groups.
43.4 Councillor Davis stated that if the consultation could be extended she would like to request that the report be presented to the Council meeting on 29 January 2009, rather than the meeting on 4th December 2008. She would like to see a review of increasing library hours and more information about the provision of new books. Councillor Randall agreed that the plan was a good piece of work but shared concerns about the consultation period, book stocks and opening hours.
43.5 The Head of Libraries and Information Services agreed to include comments from the groups who were being consulted.
43.6 RESOLVED - (1) That the Libraries Plan 2009-2012 be agreed and forwarded on to full Council for adoption.
(2) That the Libraries Plan 2009-2011 be forwarded to the January 2009 Council meeting, rather than the meeting to be held on 4 December 2008. |