Issue - meetings

National Portfolio Organisation funding 2023 to 2026

Meeting: 07/02/2023 - Executive (Item 26)

26 National Portfolio Organisation funding 2023 to 2026 pdf icon PDF 358 KB

To consider the report of the Director of Culture, Leisure and Tourism.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Agreed:

 

RECOMMENDED that Council approve:-

 

(1)   approve the funding in accordance with the table below:

 

Organisation

Annual Funding

Exeter Phoenix

£75,000 plus £51,000 rent grant

Exeter Northcott Theatre

£57,000

Exeter UNESCO City of Literature

£5,000

Libraries Unlimited

£10,000

TOTAL

£147,000 plus £51,000 rent grant

 

(2)   approve the new service level agreements for 2023-26 based on the agreed National Portfolio Organisations business case for delivery; and

(3)   note the three year commitment and annual reviews to take into account the Council’s financial position.

 

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

 

 

 

Minutes:

Councillor Wright presented the recommendations of the report and declared a non-pecuniary interest and left the meeting during consideration of the following item.

 

The Executive received the report which sets out the recommendations for £147,000 per annum of funding to the National Portfolio Organisations (NPO’s), following the announcement of Arts Council’s England’s investment programme.

 

Exeter City Council had previously supported grant funding to the National Portfolio Organisations over a three-year period, which was due to end in March 2023. The report sought approval of funding to the four organisations listed in the report for a total of £147,000 split between the four organisations.

 

Particular reference was made to the funding allocations making a reduction of £100,000 a year; however the funding would be reviewed on an annual basis, to monitor the impact the funding has had on the organisations.

 

Councillor D. Moore, as an opposition group leader, spoke on this item. She enquired on the annual time frame for funding reviews. The organisations as charities, would require notice of any future funding cuts. Assurance was sought from the Portfolio Holder, that the organisations would be notified in the autumn period each year.

 

The Leader advised that the timing of future funding reviews for the National Portfolio Organisations was partially out of the Council’s control and that organisations would be notified accordingly.

 

During the discussion the following points were raised:-

 

·        arts and culture was important for the city and the decision to cut back on funding was difficult, though it was noted that Exeter City Council had continued to fund organisations where other authorities had ceased funding; and

·        during times of uncertainty for residents, having access to arts and culture was very important.

 

RECOMMENDED that Council approve:-

 

(1)   approve the funding in accordance with the table below:

 

Organisation

Annual Funding

Exeter Phoenix

£75,000 plus £51,000 rent grant

Exeter Northcott Theatre

£57,000

Exeter UNESCO City of Literature

£5,000

Libraries Unlimited

£10,000

TOTAL

£147,000 plus £51,000 rent grant

 

(2)   approve the new service level agreements for 2023-26 based on the agreed National Portfolio Organisations business case for delivery; and

(3)   note the three year commitment and annual reviews to take into account the Council’s financial position.