The Cabinet Member for Children and Schools approved the acceptance of over £1.7 million in grant funding from Arts Council England to support music education across North London. Haringey Council will continue its role as the lead organisation for the North London Music Hub, overseeing the distribution of funds to partner boroughs.

Approve Funding for North London Music Hub

Councillor Georgia Twigg, Cabinet Member for Children and Schools, approved the acceptance of £1,702,986 in revenue grant funding from Arts Council England. This funding, provided on behalf of the Department for Education, will support the delivery of the North London Music Hub during the 2026/27 financial year.

Haringey Council will continue in its role as the Hub Lead Organisation for the North London Music Hub, which encompasses the boroughs of Haringey, Barnet, Camden, Enfield, and Islington. The decision also approved the onward distribution of the grant funding to consortium partners, adhering to the Department for Education's Music Hub funding methodology and agreed partnership arrangements. A 3.75% management contribution was approved to support the administration, governance, monitoring, reporting, and strategic leadership responsibilities of the Hub Lead Organisation. Authority was delegated to the Director of Children's Services, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Director of Legal and Governance, to finalise all necessary grant and partnership agreements.

The decision to accept the funding was made because it will enable the North London Music Hub to continue providing high-quality music education opportunities to children and young people across the five boroughs. This aligns with the delivery of the National Plan for Music Education and supports the Council's responsibilities as the Hub Lead Organisation. Failure to accept the funding would significantly reduce music education opportunities and jeopardise nationally funded Music Hub activity. The initiative also links to the council's aspirations for its culture strategy and the London Borough of Culture 2027 project.

The report detailed a top slice of the grant, amounting to £63,861.97, which represents a 3.75% management contribution. This contribution has been agreed by consortium partners and will support strategic leadership, financial administration, contract monitoring, reporting to Arts Council England, Hub Board administration, partnership coordination, and audit and governance activities. This contribution is considered proportionate and represents value for money. The remaining funds will be distributed to consortium partners in five payments, contingent upon the receipt of reporting documentation.

The report noted that Haringey Council was successfully appointed as the Hub Lead Organisation through a national competition process, reinforcing its strategic leadership role in music education across North London. The decision was made with no declarations of interest.

The meeting was attended by Councillor Georgia Twigg, Cabinet Member for Children and Schools, along with Chris Liasi (Committee and Governance Officer), Ayshe Simsek (Democratic Services Manager), and Daniel Earley (Head of Service, Schools & Learning).

You can find more information in the Public reports pack, the Minutes Public Pack, the Agenda frontsheet, the Decisions document, and the Printed minutes.