Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

 

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

 

1.1       The purpose of this report is to update Members on the development of a bid with Derry City and Strabane District Council to become the UK designated city for European Capital of Culture in 2023.

 

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

 

-       Note the contents of this report including ongoing progress against targets and critical timelines

 

3.0       Main report

 

3.1       Background

 

            Members will be aware that an update was provided to Committee in August 2017 with a follow up workshop at the Seamus Heaney Centre scheduled for 12 September 2017.

 

3.2       The purpose of this workshop was to:

 

-       provide a detailed update on the engagement process and the associated themes for the bid

-       provide an overview of programme content

-       discuss the level of financial commitment required and the associated funding strategy

 

3.3       Invites were extended to 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).

 

3.4       Engagement

 

            To date the bid has engaged with over 7,000 people across both cities. This has been achieved through attendance at events throughout the summer alongside a programme of tailored workshops. Extensive engagement has also taken place through Council’s existing schemes. An online platform has also been established.

 

3.5       The engagement during stage one has largely focussed on three strands:

 

-       One to one engagement with local citizens

-       Facilitated workshops with interest groups

-       Sessions with representative and voluntary organisations

 

3.6       The responses to this engagement will directly shape the overall theme and brand of the bid. This theme needs to be authentic to the cities as well as having strong relevance for Europe. The bid is on target to have engaged with 10,000 citizens by the submission date of 27 October 2017.  

 

3.7       Should the bid be shortlisted to stage 2 this engagement will continue with opportunities for direct participation through a series of pilot projects. A report will be taken to Committee outlining the proposed approach for the allocation of any funding to these projects.

 

3.8       Further awareness of the bid has also been achieved through marketing and communications activities. This activity will continue to increase in the coming months to help build momentum in the run up to the submission deadline. 

 

3.9       Cultural Programme

 

            As well as the civic engagement outlined above the bid team has also delivered a series of events targeting the wider cultural and creative sector. This has included:

 

-       Information session

-       6 thematic workshops

-       4 Big Ideas sessions

 

3.10     These sessions have engaged with over 300 people working across the arts, heritage, sport, science and the creative industries.

 

3.11     A creative reference group has been established to include 4 local representatives. These members were selected following a nomination and application process. This group also includes three international programmers who have previous experience of either developing a bid or delivering a successful European Capital of Culture. 

 

3.12     At stage one a number of indicative projects will be presented as part of the bid. In order to select these projects three strands of programme development are in place. This includes:

 

-       Open Call: opportunity for anyone to submit projects ideas

-       Commission: the identification of a number of flagship project ideas based on the themes emerging from the engagement process. A formal commissioning process would take place at subsequent stages.

-       Curate: the group will identify specific gaps in the programme and make connections with smaller projects from the open call.

 

3.13     The open call closed on 6 September 2017. All ideas will be retained for stage 2, however, a selection will be presented at stage one.  Any individual or group who submits an idea will be invited to a follow up event in January 2018.

 

3.14     Timeline

 

            Given the timelines associated with the submission of the stage 1 bid the final proposal and financial information will be presented at a meeting of Strategic Policy and Resources Committee on 22 September 2017. The current critical path is available on modern.gov.

 

3.15     Financial & Resource Implications

 

            A provisional total budget of £51m will be included in the submission at stage 1. This has been benchmarked against spend by other cites who have bid for the designation. This would be made up of a variety of funding streams over a number of years. A detailed fundraising strategy is currently being developed and this will include funding from public and private sources. If shortlisted to stage 2 a full business case will be developed. At stage one it is important to demonstrate the viability of the bid and the capacity of the region to deliver a programme of the required scale. Further and specific commitment to financial support will be necessary at stage 2.

 

3.16     Equality or Good Relations Implications

 

            In advance of stage 2 the engagement plan will be equality screened and any gaps addressed. The final programme and associated strategies will also be equality screened.”

 

            The Chief Executive explained to the Committee that only one city could be the named candidate city for the bid.  She informed the Members that the issue would be considered by both Councils, separately, at an agreed date in the week commencing 25th September.  The Members noted that a Special meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee would be held to consider the issue.

 

            The Committee noted the contents of the report.