This week’s policy updates from our Lead Members on LGA policy boards includes news and information from:
- Culture Tourism and Sport
Regular updates on the work of the LGA Lib Dems on policy boards will be published on the ALDC website and feedback on any of the matters raised is encouraged.
Culture, Tourism and Sport
Lead Member – Flick Rea
I regret that this will be my last update as Chair of the CTS Board as the political realities of life at the LGA mean we have had to relinquish the Chair, although I will still retain my seat on the Board. It has been an amazing couple of years since I took over from the previous Chair, Cllr Chris White and I have enjoyed every minute of it. I have been privileged to work with some splendid and enthusiastic colleagues and an amazing and dedicated staff team, who have made my tenure as Chair so fruitful and enjoyable. I believe we have made incredible progress in bringing issues concerning culture, sport and tourism into the wider agenda. For the last year our Board has focussed on the links between culture, sport, planning and growth, supporting councils to make the most of their cultural, sporting and heritage assets to boost the economy and drive up the value of places.
Building on the success of our arts and growth campaign, the LGA has continued to shape the agenda on culture, tourism and sport. From Sir Terry Farrell’s review of good design to Lord Coe’s Moving More, Living More legacy campaign, and William Sieghart’s continuing review of public libraries, we have ensured that the role of local government is fully reflected in the independent policy reviews commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Whether we have been as successful in getting our issues to an important role in the various party political agendas is something election manifestos will reveal! I regularly champion the role of culture in the wider agenda to Lib Dem colleagues but not sure I count this as one of my successes!
Meantime, I have been involved with issues around Heritage and particularly next year’s 800th anniversary of Magna Carta – something that should resonate with Liberal Democrats and I have written to the new Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and the Chairman of the Magna 800 Committee to press for national plans to be coordinated effectively.
In the Arts world, the Arts Council’s three-year investment plan was announced in July and one of its headlines was more support to arts in the regions. 60% of grant in aid funding and 70% of lottery funding will be spent outside London. A new £15 million strategic fund has also been created to invest in talent and boost production outside London. I have worked closely with ACE’s Chair, Sir Peter Bazalgette and highlighted the importance of ACE’s working closely with councils in managing a reduction in co-funded arts organisations and spreading the benefits from arts investment across the whole country.
I also recently met William Sieghart, Chair of the Independent Libraries Panel, who is interested in setting up a national digital network. In giving oral evidence to his review, we emphasised there must be local accountability of libraries.
I have also emphasised the need to work across Boards at the LGA. We have worked with Local Partnerships and the LGA’s productivity team, to provide practical assistance to councils on superfast broadband. The Board has also kept up the pressure on government to address the challenges that councils are facing with the rollout. We have also worked with the Environment Board on the Gambling Commission and on the Terry Farrell Review.