Agenda item

The report of the Cultural Services Team Manager.

The Cultural Services Team Manager presented the report to members and informed the meeting that the current focus was on the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. It was also noted that the council had secured sponsorship from Everyone Active and a grant from Bardon Aggregates to support the projects for the celebrations. Work was currently being done towards Cinema in the Park, Coalville by the Sea and the procurement process for the 2022 Christmas lights.

Members were requested to encourage groups to apply for grants under the Community Grants Scheme.

Members questioned the budget for Christmas 2022 and were advised that the cost of the lights and the Christmas Lights Switch On event had been separated into two budgets and that some of this had been carried over from funding which had not been used due to the pandemic.

Members questioned why Cinema in the Park had been reduced to a 12-day event as opposed to 16 days, as originally planned. Officers advised that it was due to the cost of living rise, therefore the budget that had been allocated would now not cover a 16 day event. It was also noted that the event had an anticipated income. Feedback from members about the pilot of Cinema in the Park had been positive.

Councillor J Geary requested a breakdown of the costings for the event and the importance of remaining within the authority’s financial means was reiterated.

Members raised the point that a religious body had been awarded a grant for their foodbank and expressed concern that it was against the policy of awarding grants to religious bodies. Officers assured members that a rigorous process would have been adhered to which the awarding officer would have been aware of, and observed. The meeting was also advised that although the project was run by a religious body, its members would not be sole beneficiaries of the food bank.

Members questioned whether the council had looked into an insurance claim for the Christmas lights which had been vandalised in 2021 and were advised that whilst officers would do so, it was felt that the amount of excess to pay would make an insurance claim untenable.

The possibility of a Steampunk event being held in Coalville was raised by members. Officers advised that this would not be on the schedule of events for the upcoming year and also informed the meeting that this would be something for which the authority would need to pay an external events organiser.

Clarification was sought on why Coalville by the Sea had been taken over by an external company who had charged constituents admission fees. Members were advised by officers that the council had decided against running this event due to Covid restrictions. The external company ran the event at no cost to the authority so it was deemed that they had to apply some charges in order to allow the event to go ahead, and whilst the authority could not guarantee there would be no charge this year, the proposal for free admission would be something which officers would include in the specification to the external company.

Officers commended members for having suggested to community groups that they may be eligible for the Community Grants, however members wished to know what the authority was doing to promote the grants. Officers advised that social media was utilised for that purpose and that details of the grants were available on the council’s website. Officers agreed to contact the Communications and Community Focus teams to further promote awareness.

It was moved by Councillor J Geary, seconded by Councillor J Legrys and

RESOLVED THAT:

1)    The progress update on 2022/23 Events be noted.

2)    The update for Christmas lights 2021/22 and 2022/23 be noted,

3)    The update for 2021/22 and 2022/23 Coalville Special Expenses Community Grant Scheme be noted.