Agenda item

This report provides the Committee details of the proposed terms of reference for this new strategic partnership for culture (the Cultural Compact), including its proposed membership structure.

Mark Raisbeck, Director of Public Realm, gave a presentation which provided the Committee details of the proposed terms of reference for the new strategic partnership for culture (the Cultural Compact), including its proposed membership structure.

The presentation covered the following points:

·        

·       The outcomes of the Cultural Strategy and background to the Cultural  Compact (Compact).

·       What the Cultural Compact was.

·       The scope and purpose of the Cultural Compact.

·       The proposed membership of the Cultural Compact.

·       Role of the Cultural Compact should the London Borough of Culture Bid be successful.

Councillor Ashok Patel noted that the London Borough of Culture Bid interviews were taking place on 7^th February 2024 and asked how the Council would be responding to the “making an impact” category. In response, Jon Pickstone confirmed the Council’s position was well thought through, and in terms of finance, governance and deliverability, expert advice had been sought and the bid was well tailored to Hammersmith and Fulham and reflected the Council’s assets, goals and communities.

Councillor Adam Peter Lang confirmed that he had attended the London Borough of Culture Bid event and this had gone well. He asked about the membership structure of the Culture Compact and whether the template had been borrowed from The Arts Federation. He stated that in his view, the number of proposed members of the Compact was about right and he was pleased that this included representatives for young people. In response, Mark Raisbeck confirmed that a loose framework, geared towards Hammersmith and Fulham had been used, and 16 members was probably about the maximum number to achieve the desire breadth of experience for the Compact. Mark Raisbeck also confirmed there would be a Cultural Forum so that those groups that were not members of the Compact would have a vehicle for their views.

Councillor Jackie Borland commented on the importance of culture to residents living in the  borough and asked about the relationship between the Cultural Strategy and the Compact. In response, Mark Raisbeck confirmed the Compact would oversee the delivery and governance of the Cultural Strategy. Val Birchall, Artistic Director and Civic Campus Curator, added that the difference between the Compact and the Arts Commission was that the Compact was intended to be more of a strategic partnership looking at how the outcomes of the health, economy or private sector could be met, to draw in additional resources and how the Council might then jointly resource the delivery of the Cultural Strategy. Whereas the Arts Commission was the mechanism for consulting and developing the themes for the Cultural Strategy work. Val confirmed that in terms of the models, nationally, there were over 20 places with cultural compacts which were very specific to particular places.

Councillor Jackie Borland asked for details to be provided about how the Compact would work and whether there were any set timeframes in mind, and what steps were being taken to ensure the Compact / Forum was inclusive and representative. In response, Mark Raisbeck confirmed that further to discussion with Councillor Holder and the Chair, it was envisaged that the membership of the Compact would be reviewed every 12 months and that the Compact would meet every two to three months depending on its workload. He confirmed that the details for the governance of the Compact would be developed with Councillor Holder and the Chair (after they had been appointed).

Councillor Liz Collins commented that a considerable amount of culture was unspoken and that the dominant culture would have the loudest voice. She suggested that if the borough was unsuccessful in its London Borough of Culture bid, then the strengths and weaknesses of the winning bid should be assessed as a good learning experience. She stressed that ensuring a legacy stemmed from a winning bid was also very important. In response, Mark Raisbeck assured the Committee that these particular points were captured within the Cultural Strategy. 

The Chair, Councillor Rory Vaughan, commended the use of the Compact to deliver the Cultural Strategy more broadly and the use of the Compact to deliver the ideas which had been generated through the bid. The Chair asked for disabled people to be represented on the Cultural Compact, especially given their important input formulating the bid.

Mark Raisbeck confirmed that the Cultural strategy was developed in partnership with over 70 of the boroughs’ cultural organisations and there was a need for them to work strategically together to drive the delivery of the overall (cultural) vision. Jon Pickstone, Strategic Director of Economy explained that the Cultural Strategy sat within the Environment Department but was inter-twined with the Visitor Economy / Economy Department. It was noted the borough was perceived as one of the principal centres of culture in West London and due to its strong transport links and connectivity it had a bright future.

The Chair confirmed the Committee welcomed the Cultural Compact and looked forward to its confirmed membership and the agenda that would be pursued in the future. The Chair welcomed that a disabled representative would be integral to the Cultural Compact and looked forward to the Cultural Strategy (rather than the Hammersmith and Fulham Council Cultural Strategy) being driven forwards.

RESOLVED

1.    For the Committee to comment on the draft terms of reference for the Hammersmith & Fulham Cultural Compact and proposed membership structure (Appendix One).