Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Recreation and Heritage Item 5

18 November 2004

Spending Plans for Joint Investment Fund Contribution

Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage

Contact: Michael Fuller Ext: 6016

1. Introduction

1.1 Following the decision of the Executive Member on 17 July 2003 to invest in the Joint Investment Fund (JIF) £60,000 was paid into the Fund. The arrangements for its spending were not made for the year 2003/04 and so this report recommends that the £61,500 funding allocated for 2004/05 at the Decision Day on 18 February 2004 is reallocated for alternative uses.

2. The SHIPS Members Arts Forum Joint Investment Fund

2.1 When Southern Arts, a regional arts association, was established in the 1970s by leading local authorities in the region, it was agreed that each local authority would contribute a subscription to the independent body. The Arts Council of Great Britain also paid money into these associations. Over the years this subscription was raised and varied as circumstances changed. In the last year of Southern Arts Hampshire County Council paid in £60,000 against a demand of £92,000. A new partnership has been established between the authorities of the sub region and Arts Council England South East. This agreement is the Joint Investment Fund managed by the SHIPS Members Arts Forum.

2.2 The Joint Investment Fund was established by the SHIPS Members Arts Forum in June 2003 and all authorities were asked to join and invest the previous contribution to Southern Arts into this new Fund. It was expected that the Fund would be spending money during the 2003/04 financial year. Three authorities paid in during that year including Hampshire County Council.

2.3 As it has transpired the SHIPS Members Arts Forum only agreed a programme of activity that it would fund with the JIF funding at its meeting on 14 July 2004. It therefore is now possible to change the contribution year from last to this. It is possible to use the funding for alternative demands.

3. New Proposals for the 2004/05 JIF Contribution

3.1 It is now proposed that the funding of £61,500 previously agreed to paid to the JIF for 2004/05 be used for the following:

· A contribution of £5,000 towards the cost of the review and implementation of the Haymarket Theatre operation.

· A contribution to the pressures on the Arts Office budget.

3.2 Arts Council England South East
Arts Council England have sent an invoice for a year's contribution for 2003/04 valued at £94,221. The Head of Arts, Tourism and Marketing negotiated a lower payment of £21,280 and it is this amount which is recommended should be paid to Arts Council.

3.3 Haymarket Theatre Review
As reported to the Executive Member at the meeting in February 2004 the Haymarket Theatre has experienced the difficult trading period resulting in a board initiated check on the organisation. This check resulted in a recommendation to institute a full review and the employment of a consultant to oversee its implementation. A request for financial help was received from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for £5,000 to help pay for this.

3.4 Arts Office Pressures
During this financial year the Arts Office has experienced new pressures that were unknown when the budget was originally compiled. The remainder of the funding is to be used to deal with these demands.

4. Financial Implications

4.1 The recommendations are a simple balance of funding within the current financial year. There will be no effect on the revenue budget through implementing these recommendations.

5. Legal Implications

5.1 The County Council is able to utilise broad powers under the Local Government Act 1972 to provide financial support for the arts. In particular, Section 145 of the Act enables the Council to contribute towards the expenses of doing anything necessary or expedient for any of a number of purposes, including the provision of entertainment of any nature, or the provision of a theatre, concert hall, dance hall or other premises suitable for entertainment. The powers include the ability to contribute towards the expenses of maintaining a band or orchestra and towards the development and improvement of the knowledge, understanding and practice of the arts.

6. The Views of the Local Members

6.1 No local members were considered appropriate to consult on this wide range of issues. Councillor Jo Kelly is the appointed Member on the Haymarket Theatre board and is aware of the need and success of the appointment there.

7. Hampshire County Council's Corporate Strategy

7.1 The proposals above address the desire within the Corporate Strategy to deliver excellent services by improving the provision of arts across the county.

Recommendation

That the £61,500 funding previously agreed to be paid to the Joint Investment Fund for 2004/05 be used as follows:

Contribution to Arts Council England, South East £21,280

Review of Haymarket Theatre management structure £5,000

Contribution to Arts Office pressures £35,220

Total £61,500

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.

TITLE LOCATION

Joint Investment Fund Arts Office file