The Community, Cultural and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee of Lancashire County Council met on Tuesday 06 February 2024 to discuss the impact of culture on the county, including its economic benefits and engagement with young people. The committee also reviewed the Lancashire Culture and Sport Fund and the Crowdfund Lancashire platform.

Culture Review: Impact on Place, Economy, and Young People

The committee received a presentation on REMADE: Cultural Investment Strategy for Lancashire, which outlined how the strategy aims to revitalise and recognise culture to achieve the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership's vision. The draft Cultural Strategy Services Strategy 2024-28 was also presented, detailing a refresh of the existing strategy to guide the service's direction over the next four years.

During the discussion, councillors sought more information on the eighteen existing National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) in Lancashire and how funding is attracted and supported, particularly for organisations nearing the end of their funding cycles. The committee also inquired about the geographical distribution of NPOs and the sources of their funding. Concerns were raised about local cultural assets and events not being widely recognised, with councillors suggesting they could contribute local knowledge. The issue of individual organisations lacking the upfront capital for sponsorship consultancy was highlighted, leading to a question about whether the council could offer support packages to cover event costs and leverage sponsorships.

The role of the third sector in engaging local communities, cultural diversity, and fostering inclusion was discussed, with an emphasis on bottom-up engagement and building the capacity of voluntary and third-sector organisations. The committee noted the need for connectivity within the county and the use of culture to share diversity, requesting efforts to raise community awareness of diverse cultures within Lancashire. The Lancashire 2050 Framework and proposals within the CCA Authority under the Cultural and Tourism section were mentioned as encapsulating these concerns. The Cultural, Physical and Activities Network (CPAN) was also noted as a body working to bring elements together across districts.

The relationship between cultural events and the retail and hospitality industries was discussed, with a recommendation to publicise a directory of festivals across the county due to their significant economic output. The closure of Preston Guild Hall was raised as a specific concern, with worries about losing citizen and tourist footfall to larger cities like Manchester and Liverpool, and the overall decline of culture in the area. Officers advised that while they worked closely with Preston City Council, the matter was ultimately under their jurisdiction.

The committee resolved to share several recommendations with the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cultural Services to inform the draft Cultural Services Strategy 2024-2028. These included considering how to further support and grow NPOs, understanding the geographical footprint of NPOs and their eligibility for National Lottery funding, examining district local plans for cultural strategies, and providing information on advocacy organisations. The development of a Directory of Festivals in Lancashire was also recommended, along with considering the role of culture in the Corporate Cohesion Strategy and Workforce Equalities Strategy. The report was also to be referred to the Children, Families and Skills Scrutiny Committee for review regarding education and skills updates. Finally, officers were asked to revisit previous reports on the creative economy and a stronger sense of place, with a further update to be provided in November 2024.

Lancashire Culture and Sport Fund / Crowdfund Lancashire

The committee received an update on Crowdfund Lancashire, the platform that administers the Lancashire Culture & Sport Fund. This initiative empowers community groups to fund and deliver projects that meet local needs. The report highlighted that in its first year, over £1.3 million was spent on community projects, leveraging an additional £838,585 in external funding. This resulted in a Gold standard rating from Spacehive, the platform provider, making Lancashire County Council the second-largest funding local authority on the platform.

Key achievements noted included fostering community cohesion, reducing social isolation, and improving health and wellbeing. The fund also empowers individuals and groups to become constituted organisations, enhancing their ability to secure further funding.

The committee discussed concerns about engaging young people, particularly those excluded from education and other services. Officers highlighted ongoing work to increase overall engagement with younger generations, who are currently the least connected and most likely to suffer social isolation.

A significant point of discussion was the recommendation to lower the maximum pledge for the Lancashire Culture & Sport Fund from £20,000 to £15,000. This change was proposed to allow the panel to support more projects, spreading funds more widely across the county and increasing the likelihood of projects reaching their crowdfunding targets. The committee agreed to support this recommendation.

However, the committee did not support recommendation iii from the report, which proposed prioritising projects in low-income areas and for under-represented communities. Instead, they agreed to support recommendations i, ii, and iv, which focused on equitable distribution of funds, targeting under-represented areas through partnerships, and lowering the maximum pledge.

Concerns were also raised about reduced funding for Youth Clubs in certain districts. Officers clarified that this falls under Children and Family Services, and communications with that department would take place.

The committee recommended exploring links with high-capacity venues, such as football grounds, to host events and facilitate greater community engagement. Officers confirmed that collaborative projects with notable groups like football teams were ongoing and that venue usage would be explored.

The committee resolved to share recommendations with the Cabinet Member for Communities and Cultural Services, including supporting the equitable distribution of the fund, targeting under-represented areas, and lowering the maximum pledge to £15,000. They agreed not to support the recommendation to prioritise projects in low-income areas. Officers were also asked to consider how venues could be better utilised for community events.

Work Programme 2023/24

The committee reviewed its work programme for the 2023/24 municipal year. A specific request was made regarding the update on the Council Estate, Use and Occupancy of Council Buildings and Asset Disposal, asking for property asset disposals to be detailed further to show the exact locations of disposed land. The committee noted the work programme for 2023/24.