Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report

1.1  This purpose of the report is to provide Members with an update on the Council’s joint bid with Derry City & Strabane District Council to become the UK designated city for the 2023 European Capital of Culture.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Note the contents of this report

·        Note the joint Members workshop which will take place in the Seamus Heaney Centre in Bellaghy on the morning of 19 June 2017.  All Members of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee as well as the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee and the Party Group Leaders (or nominees) to be invited to attend

·        Note the proposal to hold a workshop with key cultural partners as part of the engagement process in the afternoon of 19 June 2017

·        Note the plans for the launch event to take place on 20 June 2017

·        Note that work is underway on the programme development and the financial due diligence and that further reports will be brought back to the Committee for consideration at a future date.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Members are reminded that the submission of the European Capital of Culture Bid is a two-stage process as set out below:

3.2       A summary of the critical timeline in relation to the development and submission of the Stage 1 bid is available on modern.gov.

3.3       Member Workshop

            In order to ensure that elected members are aware of the process and have an opportunity to input into and shape the programme development, it is proposed that a workshop will take place on the morning of 19 June 2017 at the Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy.  This will involve elected representatives from both Councils.  It is proposed that all Members of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee as well as the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee and the Party Group Leaders (or nominees) from Belfast City Council be invited to attend this workshop.  The workshop will start at 10.00am but there will be an opportunity for Members to undertake a tour of the Homeplace at 09.15am that morning.  

3.4       The workshop will be an interactive session with colleagues from Derry City and Strabane District Council which will provide a forum for elected Members to:

·        explore the opportunities and benefits of progressing a European Capital of Culture Bid;

·        gain an insight into the experiences of other European Capitals of Culture in terms of the positive legacy which has been created; and

·        input and shape the emerging vision and themes of the Bid.

3.5       Members will also receive an update on the programme of work underway and the associated timelines to submit the Stage 1 bid.  They will also consider the draft engagement plan which is currently under development. This will contain a stakeholder analysis matrix; potential methods of engagement; an events calendar identifying engagement opportunities and a stakeholder gap analysis highlighting other audiences which may require bespoke engagement. Lessons learned from other cities underline the need for creative engagement mechanisms which will support wider outreach and feedback. Discussions are also underway with support agencies such as Volunteer Now to identify innovative engagement mechanisms and secure additional resources (e.g. volunteer network) to support the roll-out of engagement.  It is anticipated that the above engagement process will not only assist both Councils in bidding for the European Capital of Culture, but will also allow both cities to engage with its citizens in a new mechanism that will provide benefits beyond the bid process.

3.6       Stakeholder Engagement

            In the afternoon of 19 June 2017, it is proposed that there will be a stakeholder engagement session with key cultural partners.  Attendees will include representatives from some of the major cultural institutions as well as relevant representatives from government departments and third sector organisations.  This will also take place at the HomePlace.

3.7       Launch Event

            The above engagement day will be followed by the formal public launch of the joint bid on 27 June 2017.  Plans for the launch event – including venue and format – are currently being developed and an update will be provided at the Committee meeting. 

3.8       Financial & Resource Implications

            Members are reminded that the Council has committed £500,000 to support the initial bid, with Derry City & Strabane District Council inputting £300,000.  This finance will cover costs associated with the bid development including staffing; consultancy; business case development; engagement process; marketing; public relations and bid design and production.  As part of the development work on this phase of the bid, officers will identify the level of investment required for the delivery of the wider programme, if successful.  This will require significant due diligence as well as engagement with other partners to explore opportunities for financial leverage.  Additional information on this will be brought back to a future meeting of this Committee for consideration and decision. 

3.9       Equality & Good Relations Implications

            As with all major public facing cultural projects, the securing of the 2023 European Capital of Culture has the potential to bring together people from a wide range of backgrounds and therefore promote good relations in the city and across.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.