Agenda item

Briefing Note of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

Councillor G Duggins, Cabinet Member for Policy and Leadership, has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item

The Committee considered a briefing note and received a presentation on Coventry’s preparations to be UK City of Culture 2021, with particular reference to the City Readiness Board and its Sub-Groups. Councillor G Duggins, Cabinet Member for Policy and Leadership attended the meeting for the consideration of this item.

The briefing note detailed the recent delegations to officers in respect of the additional £5m to the cultural capital investment programme; the identification and  bidding for grant assistance to support the aims of the City of Culture and the European City of Sport; and to explore opportunities to provide a one-stop shop for Planning, Building Control and Licensing services and to simplify and streamline the decision making process to eliminate/ reduce delays for events.

Information was provided on the City Readiness governance structure. The City Readiness Board had been established by the City Council to lead on overseeing and co-ordinating operational management of the city’s preparations for hosting European City of Sport 2019, UK City of Culture 2021 and the Commonwealth Games 2022 programme. To date the Board has been Chaired by the Deputy Chief Executive (Place), but the position of Chair was due to pass to the Deputy Chief Executive (People). The Board had been founded with three sub-groups:

Infrastructure Group - Chaired by the Director of Transportation and Highways

Programme, Engagement and Evaluation Group - Chaired by the Director of Public Health and Wellbeing

Licensing, Operations, Planning and Safety Group - Chaired by the Director of Streetscene and Regulatory Services.

The Committee were informed that given the scale of the readiness programme (including the city’s infrastructure programme and cultural capital programme), a further Communications Group and Cultural Capital Group were proposed to be added to the governance structure supporting the Readiness Board. The Board and its sub-groups brought together relevant Council, Trust and operational partners to ensure that all areas of City of Culture readiness were covered. Each Sub-Group had their own Terms of Reference and was required to maintain their own action planner and risk register, reporting all key actions and challenges into the City Readiness Board.

The presentation referred to the City Readiness governance structure and detailed the direct investment secured since securing the title. In excess of £103m investment into the city was anticipated and over 86% of this had already been secured. The improvement works to be undertaken to the Upper Precinct, Smithford Way and Market Way were set out along with public realm improvements at the new Water Park.

The Committee were informed of the aims and objectives of the Sub-Groups along with the strengthening of cultural venues in readiness for 2021 and beyond. Further information was provided on the cultural capital investment fund which currently totalled £19.11m and the City of Culture Programme funding and outputs, the current total being £36.4m.

The presentation concluded with the challenges to be faced as follows:

·  An unprecedented scale of activity

·  Resources – prioritising recruitment and expenditure to key areas

·  Timeline – iterative processes with firm deadlines

·  Communication – breadth and inclusivity

Councillor Duggins, Cabinet Member Policy and Leadership, informed of his intention to establish a City of Culture 2021 Members Advisory Board to consider City Readiness and enable the Trust to keep members updated with the development of the programme.  

Members questioned the officers on a number of issues and responses were provided, matters raised included:

·  Support for the work undertaken to date in preparation for 2021

·  Lessons to be learnt from Hull in light of the City of Culture 2017 and how these had impacted on Coventry’s preparations

·  Further information about the work undertaken to date with local communities and a request for more liaison with residents

·  The role of scrutiny during the preparations for 2021

·  Further details about the intention to hold events in the various wards across the city and the appropriate engagement

·  What was being done to ensure that the licensing process was easy to follow and transparent

·  The importance of 2021 being an event for everyone, ensuring accessibility for all  

·  What was happening in relation to street cleansing and fly tipping

·  Clarification that when additional funding was secured, there would be the ability to deliver an enhanced programme

·  Clarification about the plans to accommodate additional visitors to the city during 2021, with 2.5m people expected to attend the different events throughout the year.

RESOLVED that:

(1) The content of the briefing note and presentation be noted.

(2) The ongoing work of the City of Culture Trust be supported.

(3) The Committee support the establishment of a City of Culture 2021 Members Advisory Board, whose membership includes Councillor Kelly, Deputy Chair of Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee and the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor.

(4) Arrangements be put in place to establish regular scrutiny of City of Culture 2021 by Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee and other co-opted members as appropriate.