Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies had been received from Cllr Pryor, Cllr Simpson, Cllr Smalley, Kamran Rashid, Leigh-Anne Stradeski, Dominic Bascombe, Matt Wantsall, Catherine Mitchell, Deborah Munt, and Helen Featherstone.

There were no declarations of pecuniary interests at the meeting.

There were no items that required the exemption of the press and public.

Resolved: That the minutes of the last meeting be approved

The Mayor provided an update on events in the cultural sector since the last meeting:

·       The launch of Leeds2023 and Kirklees Year of Music 2023.

·       The PRS Foundation had launched the PPL momentum accelerator, a targeted scheme to support the development of artists and bands outside of

·       London.

·       Leeds University, Leeds City Council, Arts Council and Leeds2023 were supporting the development of the National Poetry Centre, and currently looking for a Development Director.

·       Work with Simon Armitage on the Young Poet Laureate was progressing well, with plenty of schools and students interested in taking part.  

·       The University of Huddersfield had been awarded funding by the UK Research Institute and Arts and Humanities Research Council to consider how creative community assets can be mobilised to help tackle health inequalities.

·       BPI had submitted their bid to open a ‘BRIT School North’ in Bradford.

The Committee considered a report that set out the latest economic data relating to the sector.

Members noted that the economic situation facing the sector was mixed: employment was holding up with vacancies still high, but output was volatile, and pay was growing in cash terms but not in real terms

The announcement of the Government’s Energy Bill Discount Scheme, although smaller business that do not operate in energy and trade intensive industries would receive the least support, meaning that cultural sector was likely to be exposed to high energy costs.

The Committee noted the evaluation plans for the Culture, Heritage, and Sport framework which included a set of indicators against each of the four themes contained in the framework.

Members discussed the need for medium term forecasting to get an accurate picture of the sector, consolidate data across sectors, and provide sector mapping to Government departments to show the impact of regional interventions.

Resolved:

(i)              That the report be noted.

(ii)             That the plans for future evaluation be noted.

Members were provided with a presentation about the East Bierley Community Sports Association which gave a progress report on the development of their site, including plans to increase provision for women and girls.

Resolved: that the presentation be noted.

The Committee was provided with a presentation from Bradford UK City of Culture 2025 and gave a presentation on their plans to make the event a landmark for the city and wider region.

Resolved: That the presentation be noted.

Members considered a report which provided an update on the development of a West Yorkshire Plan.

The Plan would set out an ambitious narrative for the whole region and provide a framework for regional activity to meet our shared priorities.

A draft of the plan had been shared for feedback and was being discussed with regional partners through all Combined Authority committees, business groups and universities. 

Resolved: That the report be noted. 

Members considered a report which provided an update on the development of the Culture, Heritage, and Sport skills and business support delivery plan. The Plan set out interventions on theme 3(Skills) and 4 (Business) of the cultural framework.

Members welcomed the interventions outlined in the report and had the following comments and questions:

·       The possibility to overlay the interventions with a modular approach to the different cultural sectors.

·       Whether the intervention to increase the sustainability and resilience of organisations included for profit as well as CICs and no-profits. Members noted that it did, and the wording would be amended to make that clear.

·       That committee members were well placed to identify and inform best practice when it came to the supporting freelancers.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

Resolved:

The Culture, Heritage and Sport Committee approved that:

(i)          The LEEDS 2023: Women of the World, Women of West Yorkshire scheme proceeds through decision point 2 to 4 (business justification) and work commences on activity 5 (delivery).

(ii)         Approval to the total scheme value of £1,500,000 is given.

(iii)       The Combined Authority enters into a funding agreement with Leeds City Council for the remaining expenditure of £948,328.

(iv)       Future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in this report. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in this report.

Members considered a report that put forward a project for approval. The committee discussed the LEEDS 2023: Women of the World, Women of West Yorkshire scheme.

Resolved:

The Culture, Heritage and Sport Committee approved that:

(1)        The LEEDS 2023: Women of the World, Women of West Yorkshire scheme proceeds through decision point 2 to 4 (business justification) and work commences on activity 5 (delivery).

(2)        Approval to the total scheme value of £1,500,000 is given.

(3)        The Combined Authority enters into a funding agreement with Leeds City Council for the remaining expenditure of £948,328.

(4)        Future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in this report. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in this report.

The date of the next meeting is 28 March 2023.

The next meeting will be held on 28 March.