Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable declarations of interest.

The Committee noted that Councillor L Bigham was a member of the Advisory Panel for EnV, an organisation who are partners with Coventry City of Culture Trust.

(a)  To agree the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 26 August, 2021

(b)  Any matter arising

The Minutes of the meeting held on 26th August, 2021 were agreed as a true record.

There were no matters arising.

Briefing Note of the Director of Business, Investment and Culture

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee considered a briefing note of the Director of Business Investment and Culture and the Strategic Lead (European City of Sport, UK City of Culture and Commonwealth Games) which updated Members of the Board on progress in delivering impact and targeted outcomes for Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture 2021 (UKCOC), including plans to secure legacy for the city from hosting the title.  The Briefing Note was considered with a detailed presentation to the Board from the Coventry City of Culture Trust and Council officers.

On 7th December 2017, Coventry was awarded the title of UK City of Culture 2021.  The process of implementing and further developing planning for the title year (originally 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021) commenced with immediate effect.  In Spring 2020, in recognition of the emerging impact of COVID on planning for delivery of UKCOC 2021, the Coventry City of Culture Trust (the Trust) worked with all its principle partners, including the Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport and the City Council, to agree revised dates for the title year.  In July 2020, it was announced that Coventry’s year as UK City of Culture would run from May 2021 to May 2022.

To support delivery of the UK City of Culture 2021 in meeting local and regional needs, a strategy for performance measurement and evaluation was developed in partnership with Coventry University and the University of Warwick, the City Council and the Trust.  At the centre of this strategy was a Theory of Change for evaluating the cultural, social, economic, health and wellbeing impacts of UK City of Culture 2021 programmes and activities on the city and for its people.  Within this approach, there were 15 outcomes linked to four key impacts, focused on Coventry citizens positively influencing and shaping the city they want to live in; Coventry’s culture contributing to the social and economic prosperity of the city and region; Coventry’s place as a global and connected city; and Coventry being recognised as a future facing, pioneering city.

To date, the Coventry City of Culture Trust had secured £32m of income.  This income included £3.8m received from central government departments and bodies.  New funding received in the current financial year included awards from Esmee Fairbairn Foundation (£200k), the Foyle Foundation (£125k), the Backstage Trust (£100k) and Severn Trent (£67.5k), with £150k secured from Corporate Partners.  Trust expenditure remained within budgeted levels for the financial year.

In addition to funding secured through the Trust, on the back of winning the City of Culture Title, the Council had directly managed a capital programme investing in the city’s public realm, cultural venues, heritage buildings and creative production spaces.  The financial value of this programme of direct investment currently exceeded £86m, but the impact of this investment would be felt for years to come – through a creative, transformative programme of investment in public realm; through improving and developing performance venues, gallery spaces and cultural destinations for the benefit of audiences and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

Report of the Director of Law and Governance

The Committee noted their Work Programme for the current Municipal year. 

Any other items of public business which the Chair decides to take as a matter of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were no additional items of public business