Contact:

Richard Howlett, Head of Hampshire Music Service, 02380 652037; [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

1. That the Executive Member for Education:

a) endorses the aims of the Music Manifesto, on behalf of the County Council, by becoming a signatory to it.

b) adopts the five aims of the Music Manifesto as overarching aims for the County Council's Music Service.

c) pledges to support the aims of the Music Manifesto during the period 2005-08 through the following planned, new initiatives of the Hampshire Music Service:

· Offering to 3000 children, annually, the chance to attend their first concert - a "Primary Prom" Concert, to introduce them to a range of exciting music ensembles, and different styles of music.

· Developing, piloting and sharing with all Hampshire maintained primary and special schools, wider opportunities modules, including ukulele, violin, recorder, keyboard, fife, samba, and guitar, to offer access to instrumental playing to more primary-aged children for the first time.

· Developing further the existing Hampshire music ensembles to provide regular, high quality playing and singing opportunities for a further 550 young musicians, an increase of 20% over current numbers.

2. That a further report on the roll-out of the wider opportunities programme to all Hampshire primary schools be made during the academic year 2006-07, to include a progress report on the pledges in 1 above.

2 Reason

The aims of the Music Manifesto are complementary to the aims of Hampshire Music Service, and becoming a signatory will enhance significantly the public profile of Hampshire's excellent music provision.

The commitment of the County Council to the Music Manifesto will be a powerful message of its continuing support for music, and an encouragement to others to engage with the Council in partnerships that develop access to music.

This decision supports Aims 1 (maximising life opportunities), 3 (achieving economic prosperity), 4 (building strong and safe communities) and 5 (improving services) of the Corporate Strategy by seeking to create opportunities for more young people to engage with music.

The decision supports Aims 1 (being healthy), 2 (staying safe), 3 (enjoying and achieving), 4 (making a positive contribution) and 5 (economic well-being) of the Children Act by encouraging music activities that can engage all children, and can enhance their learning and development.

3 Other Options considered and rejected:

3.1 Option 1: to become a signatory to the manifesto without a pledge of specific action.

The pledging of the specific actions would add significant strength to the signing and indicate the Council's longer-term commitment to supporting and widening high quality music opportunities for all children.

3.2 Option 2: not to be a signatory to the manifesto.

No benefit is gained by not becoming a signatory to the manifesto. This would be a lost opportunity to add Hampshire's considerable weight to the national momentum in support of music.

4 Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted - None

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - None

6 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent - None

Approved by: Date:

Councillor D A Kirk

Executive Member for Education