Contact: Nicola Horsey, ext 5423

1. Introduction

1.1 In 2000 the Department for Culture, Media and Sport urged every local authority to produce a Cultural Strategy for their area.

1.2 Local authorities have been encouraged to use a wide definition of the word `culture' and to demonstrate what an important role culture has in tackling social exclusion under Government agendas such as regeneration, healthier lifestyles, lifelong learning and so on.

2. Hampshire's Cultural Strategy

2.1 Over the last ten months the County Council has been working on a Cultural Strategy for the administrative County of Hampshire. This has involved discussions with the district and unitary authorities in Hampshire, a brainstorming session with representatives from the regional cultural agencies and a seminar for colleagues from all the County Council departments and Hampshire based cultural organisations.

2.2 Whilst all this work was going on, the County Council was deemed to be an excellent performing local authority in December 2002, with the result that it no longer has to produce a large number of plans and strategies, including the Cultural Strategy. However, it was decided that there was still considerable merit in having a Cultural Strategy for Hampshire, but to make the most of not having to stick to the Government guidelines quite as rigidly as before.

2.3 The result is the draft Cultural Strategy which is attached for comment by the Policy Review Committee before it goes out for wider consultation in Hampshire.

Recommendation

That Members welcome the draft Cultural Strategy and support its circulation for wider consultation prior to being submitted to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for his consideration.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

N.B. the list excludes:

1. Published works.

2. Documents that disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

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