Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point in the meeting, the Executive Member is asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which he might have in respect of business on this agenda.

The Executive Member was asked to declare any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests not included on the Register of Interests that he might have had in respect of business on the agenda.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 29 January 2016.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Decision Session held on 29 January 2016 be approved and signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak at the meeting can do so. The deadline for registering is at Thursday 17 March 2016 at 5.00 pm.

Members of the public may register to speak on :-

·        an item on the agenda

·        an issue within the Executive Member’s remit;

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting will be filmed and webcast and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission.  This broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at: https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/6453/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_council_meetingspdf

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak under Public Participation.

This report provides an update on Make it York’s events programme.  It sets out a direction of travel for future development of that programme and identifies areas where the Council can assist Make it York.

Resolved: (i) That Make it York’s progress with its events strategy be noted.

                (ii) That comments from the Executive Member with regard to how the Council can support the community dimensions of Make it York’s programme be noted.

               (iii) That one off funding support of £75,000, to support the development of the community dimensions of the International Digital Festival, be agreed subject to the Arts Council bid being successful.  

Reason: To ensure that a future direction of travel is in place for Make it York’s events programme.

The Executive Member gave consideration to a report which provided him with an update on Make it York’s event programme. The report set out a direction of travel for future development of the programme and identified areas where the Council could assist Make it York (MIY).

The Assistant Director for Communities and Culture presented the report and informed the Executive Member that the main focus of the strategy was an international Digital Media Arts festival. He provided an update on the £75k Science City York funding. As part of the transfer of Science City York (SCY) to Make it York in April 2014 a fund of £168k was transferred with specific criteria to support start up and developing businesses in high growth sectors in the City of York. If the Arts Council bid is successful, Make it York are proposing that £75k of this budget is earmarked to create a grant fund for supporting growth businesses, within the Science City York remit, who undertake developmental activity that would grow business at the same time as developing the digital media festival.  This is supported by the Science City York advisory board that advise Make It York and will, in due course, be reported to the MIY board.

The Master of the York Guild of Media Arts, who is also a director of Make It York and was in attendance at the meeting on behalf of MIY, informed the Executive Member that the idea of a Digital Media Arts festival fitted naturally with York’s heritage as a city of festival and, in particular, built on the success of Illuminate. He pointed out that other  places  have begun to follow the lead set with Illuminate, for example Durham’s Lumiere, and it was important that York continues to develop its offer. In addition, it would give York a profile in the contemporary digital arts to complement the heritage profile that it already has.

The Executive Member welcomed the initiative. However he felt there needed to be clarification about what digital media arts are as there still remained a lack of engagement with this area amongst the public. He felt that discussions could take place with the Make it York Board on this and noted that the community programme to be delivered through the Council’s one-off funding would help to increase people’s engagement.

Resolved: (i) That Make it York’s progress with its events strategy be noted.

                (ii) That comments from the Executive Member with regard to how the Council can support the community dimensions of Make it York’s programme be noted.

               (iii) That one off funding support of £75,000, to support the development of the community dimensions of the International Digital Festival, be agreed subject to the Arts Council bid being successful.  

Reason: To ensure that a future direction of travel is in place for Make it York’s events programme.