(See report at agenda item 16 (pages 65 to 69) of the private Cabinet agenda of 6 December 2016 and pages 126 to 147 in the private supplement to the agenda)
RECOMMENDED BY THE CABINET
That the Council:
1)
Approves a grant as stated in para 6.1 (a) of the agenda report be
offered to the Chichester Festival Theatre for four years
commencing April 2018, subject to a funding agreement and
confirmation of continued Arts Council England funding over that
period.
2)
Approves a grant as stated in para 6.1 (b) of the agenda report be
offered to the Pallant House Gallery
for four years commencing April 2018, subject to a funding
agreement and confirmation of continued Arts Council England
funding over that period.
3)
Approves the Head of Community Services, following consultation
with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Services,
being given delegated authority to agree the terms of the funding
agreements including relevant break clauses.
4) Notes that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee continues to monitor performance of these two organisations.
Minutes:
Mrs Lintill (Cabinet Member for Community Services), seconded by Mr Dignum, moved these recommendations to the Council.
Mrs Lintill introduced the report, saying that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered this issue fully at its meeting on 17 January 2017. The Arts Council were seeing reductions in arts funding across the country averaging 25%. The cultural grants were currently funded from reserves however, if agreed, it was proposed that these grants would form part of the base budget in future. It was likely that if the Council did not give grant funding to these organisations that the Arts Council would not grant fund them either.
Recommendations one and two were to grant fund the theatre and gallery subject to Arts Council funding. If the two organisations did not achieve Arts Council funding then the Council would be able to rescind its decision. Performance against funding agreements at both organisations would continue to be monitored by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Mrs P Dignum declared a prejudicial interest in this matter as a Trustee of Pallant House Gallery. She was advised that she could remain in the room for the debate but may not vote.
Mr Oakley was not supportive as cultural grants were not part of central services. Other contributors to the local economy like Bunn Leisure and Goodwood had not been supported in this same manner. He questioned the need to maintain an art collection and whether the Council had had legal advice about disposing of the art collection. He wanted to see a reduction in cultural grant funding and questioned the increased incomes of the Festival Theatre’s chief officers.
Mr Hansford (Head of Community Services) had considered both sets of accounts. The Council’s representatives appointed to the boards of the theatre and gallery would be able to monitor the organisations’ decisions regarding their management structure and remuneration. The return on investment had been established as £1:£80 for the theatre (every £1 of grant achieved £80 economic benefit to the district) and £1:£30 for the gallery (every £1 of grant achieved £30 of economic benefit to the district).
Mrs Kilby, Mr Plowman, Mrs Purnell, Mrs Dignum, Mrs Graves and Mrs Apel all supported the recommendation.
Mrs Dignum highlighted the national and international attraction of both the theatre and the gallery. The huge successes of the “Outside-In” programme had resulted in the initiative becoming so famous that it was branching out as a separate charity. The huge benefits to people on this programme meant less attendance at mental health clinics, which fitted with the Council’s priorities and support of wellbeing.
On being put to the vote, the Council
RESOLVED
1)
That a grant of £187,500
per annum be offeredto the ChichesterFestival Theatrefor
fouryears commencingApril 2018,subject to afunding agreementand
confirmationof continuedArts Council England fundingover
thatperiod.
2)
That a grant of
£130,000 be offeredto the PallantHouse Galleryfor fouryears commencingApril
2018, subjectto a fundingagreement andconfirmation ofcontinued Arts
CouncilEngland funding overthat period.
3)
That the Head ofCommunity Services,following consultationwith the
Deputy Leaderand CabinetMember forCommunity Services, be given delegatedauthority toagree
theterms ofthe fundingagreements including relevant
breakclauses.
4) That theOverview andScrutiny Committeecontinues to monitor performanceof thesetwo organisations.