Issue - meetings

This report provides an update on two recent successful funding bids to the Leeds City Region Business Rates Pool to create two related programmes of cultural activity that will engage residents in a new shared vision for the city and contribute to the development of the Castle Gateway regeneration project by facilitating the use of Castle Car park as an events space.

Resolved:  (i)      That the approach to developing the programmes, set out in paragraphs 9 to 11 of the report, be approved.

Reason      To ensure that maximum benefit is gained for the city from these successful funding bids.

                   (ii)      That a further report be brought to the Executive Member or the relevant scrutiny committee providing information on the evaluation of last year’s Mediale events, further details of governance arrangements going forward and details of how the £90k core costs would be spent.

Reason:     To ensure that the programmes are properly managed and monitored.

The Executive Member considered a report which gave an update on two successful funding bids to the Leeds City Region (LCR) Business Rates Pool for projects that would create two related programmes of cultural activity in York.  Approval was sought for a proposed approach to these programmes.

The first project aimed to attract investment by promoting York’s strengths and assets through development of a shared vision for the city.  The second concerned the master-plan to transform the Castle and Eye of York area into new public realm and year-round spaces for theatre, markets and cultural events.  The bids provided:

·        £100k for programming in respect of the city vision;

·        £90k core costs for the Mediale Team to develop and run the programmes as set out in paragraph 9, with the team to raise a further £55k from sponsorship, co-commissioners and ticket sales;

·        £20k for further development of the Festival of the Rivers, as outlined in paragraph 11;

·        £100k to mitigate potential loss of car park income.

The council would also work with Mediale to carry out a feasibility study on an offer made by Changsha in China of funding towards the delivery of a major firework display on the Castle Gateway site.

Officers corrected two errors in paragraph 14 of the report: ‘£100k’ in the third sentence should read ‘£170k and ‘£210k’ in the final sentence should read ‘£140k’.  In response to questions from the Executive Member and matters raised under Public Participation, it was reported that a full evaluation of the first Mediale event held last year would be available shortly.  Using Mediale as the vehicle to take the two projects forward would enable the team to engage with York residents and make Mediale more than just a biennial festival.  The bulk of the funding would be channelled into the community and professional arts sectors.  Any council funding towards the fireworks display would be subject to consideration of a business plan.

Resolved:  (i)      That the approach to developing the programmes, set out in paragraphs 9 to 11 of the report, be approved.

Reason      To ensure that maximum benefit is gained for the city from these successful funding bids.

                   (ii)      That a further report be brought to the Executive Member or the relevant scrutiny committee providing information on the evaluation of last year’s Mediale events and further details of governance arrangements for these two programmes going forward and how the funding is spent.

Reason:     To ensure that the programmes are properly managed and monitored.