This thought-provoking session explored how local government reorganisation will reshape the landscape for cultural services. Hosted by the National Alliance for Cultural Services in partnership with the Local Policy Innovation Partnership, this webinar spotlighted the opportunities and challenges facing cultural provision and how strategic leaders can navigate through them.
Simon Edwards, CEO of the County Councils Network, James Holden, Director of the District Councils Network and Helen Pheby Head of Culture Heritage and Sport for the WYCA took participants through the context from these different perspectives. They explained the drivers of the government’s approach and the complexity of the current picture, with multiple proposals for new arrangements across the country. The large-scale complex and time-consuming transformation is focussed on cost savings in statutory services, where pressures are greatest, but cost-savings are only part of the picture, and there are opportunities in Combined Authorities for linkage to other agendas including health and creative industries.
Ian Leete, Senior Adviser for Culture Tourism & Sport at LGA, presented on the opportunities for culture and heritage to be foregrounded in helping communities reinforce their identity within new boundaries. The LGA has many resources to support authorities with understanding the process and timescales, and with practical planning.
The experience of North Northamptonshire was shared by Kerry Purnell, AD for Communities with many lessons that could help authorities just embarking on the process including the need for patience while bedding in, while Sue Wills from Surrey County Council presented on the work currently under way to create a fresh mandate for culture as new authorities come into being.
Presentations and links as below:
Update on Local Government Reorganisation and support available from LGA
