Purpose

This report seeks approval from Executive
Board to position the Council’s future investment in the
independent cultural sector to maximise opportunities and to
connect its investment and impacts firmly to the Best City
Ambition. Following a period of redesign, funding programmes would
operate under one umbrella – Leeds’ Cultural Investment
Programme – and work to common aims, priorities and
principles across the programme. Approval is sought to:
• 
Approve the redesign of the current funds as the Leeds Cultural
Investment Programme working to the shared aim, priorities and
principles and implementation approach, as set out in this
report.
• 
Approve a new three-year investment programme subject to annual
Council budget setting and therefore to potential change.
• 
Subject to recommendation b), agree to the Director of City
Development using his existing delegated powers to approve grant
funding decisions for these programmes, with awards of grants made
in accordance with the proposed aim, principles and priorities and
in support of the Best City Ambition.