The Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report which gave an update on progress to date on the strategic priorities set out in the Culture and Heritage Strategy that ran until 2030 and sought approval of the three-year Culture and Heritage Action Plan for 2023-26.  A draft of the Statement of Intent was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

The report explained that the Cultural Sector had expressed a desire for a set of shared cultural aspirations and objectives for Reading. and that a Statement of Intent had been found to be appropriate at this stage.  This statement would be a living document, that would evolve with Reading Borough Council’s relationship with the sector.  The statement was a shared document and would not be the sole responsibility of any one organisation.  Reading Borough Council was leading the development of the document and was facilitating, but was not solely responsible for delivery of the statement. The report added that the Statement of Intent did not commit the Council or any partner to spending money to deliver these intentions, and was intended as a direction of travel and set of aims around which the sector could coalesce.  The next steps would be for Officers to set up small strategic group to manage and develop the statement of intent. This group would start delivery against year one aspirations and objectives and submit a progress report to the Committee in March 2024.

The report explained that the Statement of Intent had been inspired by the three strategic priorities of the Culture and Heritage Strategy 2015-2030 and recognised the opportunities that the Levelling Up Funding now presented and the importance of Culture, Creativity and Heritage in the following areas of work:

·       Placemaking;

·       Physical and Mental Wellbeing;

·       Celebrating the diversity of Reading’s communities;

·       Economic Development;

·       Sustainability.

The report also set out examples of successful partnership projects including the High Street Heritage Action Zone Cultural Consortium, Reading Anniversaries Celebrations, Gaia for Reading Climate Festival, Reading Abbey Revealed, the Reading Libraries and Reading Rep partnership and delivering Children and Young People’s Mental Wellbeing through Culture.

Resolved:

(1)          That the progress to date and achievements of Reading Borough Council’s culture and heritage partnership projects over the last two years be noted;

(2)      That the shared Statement of Intent and proposed next steps be approved.