Decision Details

1. That Cabinet approve a budget of £100k to support the development of the City of Culture bid should it be longlisted.

2. That Cabinet approve the development of an East Suffolk Cultural Strategy regardless of the outcome of the City of Culture bid and the District seeks to deliver an ambitious cultural programme.

Paul Wood

Head of Economic Development and Regeneration

paul.wood@eastsuffolk.gov.uk

In order to develop an ambitious and compelling full application with a serious chance of success, additional funding is required to develop the application.

Securing UK City of Culture status would provide a massive boost to the East Suffolk/ Great Yarmouth area. It will result in millions of pounds of additional investment in the area, raise the profile of the area on an international stage and create a long lasting inclusive economic growth and community development legacy. This builds on the already ambitious cultural regeneration programmes both local authorities have previously developed jointly and are currently pursuing.

Regardless of the success of the EoI, ESC is proposing to develop an East Suffolk wide cultural strategy and associated delivery programme which will build on the work developed as part of the City of Culture bid. This is important since investment in the cultural sector will strongly support the delivery of the ES Strategic Plan objectives.

Securing UK City of Culture status will provide a massive boost to the East Suffolk/ Great Yarmouth area. It will result in millions of pounds of additional investment in the area, raise the profile of the area on an international stage and create a long lasting inclusive economic growth and community development legacy. This builds on the already ambitious cultural regeneration programmes both local authorities have previously developed jointly and are currently pursuing.

Regardless of the success of the EoI, ESC is proposing to develop an East Suffolk wide cultural strategy and associated delivery programme which will build on the work developed as part of the City of Culture bid. This is important since investment in the cultural sector will strongly support the delivery of the ES Strategic Plan objectives.

To approve a smaller amount of funding which will only allow the bid partners to develop a more limited application with less ambition and therefore less likely to succeed in winning the bid.

To not approve any additional funding which means the application will be very limited with no opportunity to engage external expertise to support the development of the full application/ programme. Partners would have to seriously consider whether there is any point in allocating significant officer time to such an application as the chances of success will be remote. 

1. That a budget of £100k to support the development of the City of Culture bid should it be longlisted be approved.   
2. That the development of an East Suffolk Cultural Strategy regardless of the outcome of the City of Culture bid and the District seeks to deliver an ambitious cultural programme be approved.