Agenda item

The Cabinet considered the report of the Corporate Director of Regeneration, Economy and Growth that highlighted the activity following County Durham’s bid for UK City of Culture 2025 and to outline a 2024-2026 high level cultural development programme and associated funding sources (for copy of report, see file of minutes).

Councillor E Scott, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Economy and Partnerships moved the report and explained that Durham County Council were proud being a finalist in the UK City of Culture competition. Being shortlisted for the accolade was testament to the energy, creativity and collective action of a range of partners across the County. The process involved hundreds of local people and those people had continued on the journey, refining the key elements of the bid to develop longer term propositions that would have a deep and long term impact on places, communities and economy. The report identified that key economic, social and place based elements of the City of Culture bid had been updated and embedded into the inclusive economic strategy. This approach ensured that programmes and policies relating to culture, heritage and well-being, balanced growth, inclusion and opportunity. It also ensured that interventions would benefit all communities in the county, while contributing to economic success, profile and sector development.

Use of the cultural reserve would support long term cultural development of places and people and there was a genuine excitement that the Council would be able to support creative education and creative careers and skills development. The rollout of PlaceLabs meant that community led activity would be supported across a countywide range of locations connecting wider places, shaping investments and partnerships. Large scale events such as ‘finding the light’ would further contribute to the growing visitor economy which hit the £1 billion mark in 2023. Importantly this use of the Culture reserve shows partners and potential cofounders that County Durham is seriously committed to culture and the role it plays in the economy and communities.

In seconding the report, Councillor J Rowlandson, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Resources, Investments and Assets highlighted that Durham County Council was leading on the development of the culture, tourism and sport portfolio towards the establishment of the North East Mayoral Combined Authority if made in 2024. As a result of the devolution deal the strategic intent of this report aligned closely to the NE devolution deal with a dedicated reference to an ambitious cultural framework for the region. The Council’s approach would place County Durham firmly at the heart of the wider North East ambitions for culture, creative tourism and sports sectors over the next 30 years and beyond. This provides further confidence that the leverage the reserve could achieve would be long term, inclusive and deeply impactful for local people and the economy.

The Leader of the Council highlighted that the bid for the City of Culture 2025 crown showed the Council’s ambition for County Durham and demonstrated how the area could not only improve the quality of life for residents but also how it would have a significant positive impact on the economy. The culture reserve would act as an enabler to attract matched funding to the County and would build on the amazing work already taken place by teams and partners. The reality was that if the Council didn’t promote and spread the message of the fantastic offer of County Durham, then no one else would. That message also applied to the wider North East.

Councillor Hopgood felt that culture lead regeneration had taken a back seat for far too long. It was an honour for Durham to be the lead authority in the LA7, through the devolution deal, on arts, culture, tourism and sport and what better way to lead by example.

Resolved:

That the recommendations in the report be agreed.