Agenda item

(To receive a report from William Mason, Head of Culture and Nicole Hilton, Assistant Director – Communities,which invites the Committee to comment on the future of the Heritage Service in Lincolnshire. The report is being presented to the Executive on the 03 November 2020. The views of the Scrutiny Committee will be reported to the Executive as part of the consideration of this item)

Councillor N Worth, Executive Councillor for Culture and Emergency Services, reported that the Council had set out a six point plan for the future of the heritage services with the aim of making the services provided much more accessible to all. The heritage of the County was of national and international importance and everyone should have the opportunity to see and explore the great things about the county. The Council was thinking long-term how it could deliver its offering in the best way possible. It was important to work together as Greater Lincolnshire to have a strong and unified voice to ensure the County was heard at a national level. The aim was to influence decisions, bring funding and investment, work with national and international cultural institutions and ensure access to the best blockbuster exhibitions and events. He reported that Lincolnshire had some inspirational artefacts, architecturally brilliant buildings and a wonderful natural environment, to enjoy now and in the future. Together with partners, sponsors and private institutions, the Council would work to create a strong identity with a narrative totell the story of the county, bringing together the areas culture and history in a unique way. To get the investment the County deserved and to collaborate to create a powerful and attractive offer, there was a need for a strong voice at a national level, and it was believed a truly unified cultural offering was the best way forward to make the best case for external funding, which was urgently needed and overdue. Further heritage investment would provide a real boost to the economy, tourism and make a significant difference to attracting new businesses and visitors coming to the County.

The aim was to make Lincolnshire an even greater place to live, work, visit and study. Working with partners to create 'centres of excellence' which would bring together museums, art collections, archives and aviation heritage in a number of well-placed sites across the County – allowing more of the County's rich treasures to be displayed. The Council would continue to work with partners to bring nationally recognised and world renowned art and cultural exhibitions and installations to our attractions across the county.

The Head of Culture introduced a report which invited the Committee to comment on the future of the Heritage Service in Lincolnshire. The report was being presented to the Executive on the 3 November 2020. The views of the Scrutiny Committee would be reported to the Executive as part of the consideration of this item.

The report expanded on the vision outlined by Councillor N Worth and the six point plan which included:- having a strong voice at a national level; embracing Greater Lincolnshire as a whole, making heritage and art available to all; telling the story of the County differently; securing the investment the County deserved; making memories County-wide in super-sites across Greater Lincolnshire; working with partners to deliver the best quality, immersive art and culture.

In summary, the long term vision for Greater Lincolnshire, would bring together museums, art collections and aviation heritage and included the potential for a supersite central to the county. It involved working together with North and North East Lincolnshire Councils as a part of a Greater Lincolnshire approach, which would hopefully attract funding in the future.

Members considered the report and as part of the discussions the following points were made:

·               A member of the Committee highlighted concerns in relation to aspects of the proposed approach for partnership working with private companies. The Councillor sought clarification that this did not constitute an outsourcing of running these services to private enterprises. The Executive Councillor reassured the Committee that there was no specific focus on private companies, but rather the opportunity to seek both public and private funding and investment from a wide range of partners.

·               The Committee supported continued engagement with members of the public as part of developing a vision for heritage services. Officers confirmed that the aim of partnership working was about bringing in partners with different skills and expertise and not about handing over the assets to private operation.

·               A member of the Committee proposed a motion that the Usher Art Gallery should continue to be included as part of The Collection supersite. There was no seconder for the motion and it was not supported by the Committee. The Committee did however acknowledge that the Usher Art Gallery could be part of the future offer, but only as part of a sustainable solution.

·               A member of the Committee supported the idea to bring in the Registration Service on to the upper floor of The Usher Gallery to support sustainable improvements for both services. 

·               The Committee acknowledged the Lincoln centric nature of the current heritage offer and highlighted the need to support wider heritage across the County. The Committee supported the need to develop a more central supersite for the whole of Greater Lincolnshire, and to work with other councils across Greater Lincolnshire to join up funding opportunities and pool marketing resources. 

RESOLVED:

1.        The Committee supports the vision for heritage services for the whole of Greater Lincolnshire as outlined in the report;

2.        That a summary of the above comments be passed on to the Executive as part of its consideration of this item.