Issue - meetings

The Executive Member for Wellbeing proposed the recommendations made by the Executive, as referred to in the Executive report of 19 February 2021, regarding the adoption of the Cultural Strategy. Councillor Buckmaster said that the report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and he had proposed an additional recommendation (B) to put the mechanics in place to move the strategy forward. He thanked staff in the Wellbeing team for putting the strategy together. Councillor Stevenson seconded the recommendations.

Councillor Goldspink said that the Liberal Democrat group were happy to support the recommendations.

Councillor Wilson said that the strategy was an excellent piece of work and gave credit to the officers who had worked on it. He raised an issue regarding the LGBTQ community mentioned on page 69 and 100 where it stated that it was a high priority to engage with those individuals. He asked for an amendment to page 70 to include the LGBTQ community alongside residents of all religious and cultural backgrounds.

Councillor E Buckmaster said that an amendment was not necessary as the LGBTQ community were referred to heavily in the document. He said that the strategy will be inclusive for everyone.

The motion to support the recommendations, having been proposed and seconded, was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, it was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that (A) the draft Cultural Strategy, incorporating the feedback from the public engagement exercise and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, be considered and adopted; and

(B) the multi-agency strategic and delivery group to which the report refers be formed and the drafting of the detailed action plan be prioritised to ensure swift commencement of the vital work of the Cultural Strategy.

The Executive Member for Wellbeing submitted a report on the East Herts Draft Cultural Strategy 2021-2025 and provided context to the strategy and how it fits within the council’s overall approach to health and wellbeing and community development. The strategy does not list or prescribe what culture should be but is a broad statement of ambition to be delivered through partners, volunteers and the whole community.

The Executive Member for Wellbeing explained that engagement would grow and the strategy will evolve over time. It is important that the strategy is not seen to be standalone but all linked as part of an holistic approach, for example, the successful ‘Forever Active’ programme, social prescribing, Dementia Friends and the major capital investment in leisure provision and arts centres are all components of the delivery of the council’s health and wellbeing strategy.

The Executive Member for Wellbeing highlighted one of the consultation comments received which mentioned having a clear information hub and relevant communications and coordinating this will be important. The strategy has incorporated comments made in the consultation and it was discussed in depth by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Leader thanked officers for their hard work on the strategy.

There being no comments, Councillor Buckmaster proposed and Councillor Haysey seconded a motion supporting the recommendations in the report and an additional recommendation (C ), the wording as follows:

That the multi-agency strategic and delivery group to which the report refers be formed and the drafting of the detailed action plan be prioritised to ensure swift commencement of the vital work of the Cultural Strategy.

 On being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED -
          (a) The draft Cultural Strategy, incorporating the feedback from the public engagement exercise and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, be considered and recommended to Council for adoption

(b)             The Head of Housing and Health incorporates any amendments to the Strategy suggested by the Executive, acting in consultation with the Lead Member for Wellbeing, prior to presentation to Council for adoption.

(c)              That the multi-agency strategic and delivery group to which the report refers be formed and the drafting of the detailed action plan be prioritised to ensure swift commencement of the vital work of the Cultural Strategy.

The Head of Housing and Health and the Community and Wellbeing Programme Manager presented a report that invited Members of Overview and Scrutiny Committee to review the draft Cultural Strategy ahead of its submission to the Executive and before its determination by Council, on 2 March 2021.

The Head of Housing and Health said that the report was an opportunity for Members to bring to the attention of the Executive, the comments of the Committee before the Executive made a recommendation to Council that the strategy be adopted.

Members were advised that 2020 had been intended to be the Hertfordshire Year of Culture 2020 (HYOC2020). Despite the pandemic lots of arts and cultural organisations had been able to deliver virtual sessions in a creative and innovative way and this had benefitted residents in the District. The Head of the Housing and Health said that the importance and benefits of a Cultural Strategy remained and were, if anything, even stronger in 2021, in respect of re-engagement and recovery from the pandemic.

The Community Wellbeing Programme Officer explained that the Cultural Strategy presented a very broad overview of the role culture played in people’s lives. Members were reminded that the strategy contained visions and ambitions that required partnership organisations to work with the Council. The Officer also said that a broad range of organisations had signed up to deliver the strategy in partnership with East Hertfordshire District Council.

Members were advised that experience and learning gained from HYOC2020 activities delivered via digital platforms had been incorporated into the strategy document along with input from the Leadership Team, Members and from Officers. The Committee was also advised that in November and December, the strategy was circulated for public consultation. Officers had taken on board comments and suggestions in amending the strategy document which were generally positive.

The Community Wellbeing Programme Officer said that she was very pleased that the Council had attracted some Arts Council funding via the Royal Opera House Bridge project even before the Cultural Strategy had been completed. Members were advised that the renamed Hertfordshire Lifestyle Network wished to learn from East Hertfordshire District Council’s experience in developing a cultural strategy for Hertfordshire.

The Executive Member for Wellbeing made a number of comments in support of the Cultural Strategy document. He said that some more work would be required in terms of an engagement plan and delivery. He emphasised that his vision of the strategy was to “plug into” things that the Council was already doing such as the healthy hub and social prescribing. He said that he hoped the strategy would enable the Council to reach residents who did not have access to arts and culture.

Councillor Goldspink said that this was an excellent strategy and was particularly pleased to see the inclusivity of the Cultural Strategy and the emphasis that had been placed on the fact that the strategy was for everybody in the community. She referred to the very clear and honest comments that had been made  ...  view the full minutes text for item 331