Agenda item

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Place.

Agreed:

RESOLVED that:

1) the publication of the draft Cultural Strategy 2026 - 2031 be approved for public consultation from 18 May 2026 for six weeks; and

2) delegated authority be granted to the Strategic Director for Place, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder, to agree a change to the consultation date if required.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

The Executive received the report on the Cultural Strategy, which was in the final stages of its development and that feedback was being sought from residents and the cultural sector. As such the report was seeking authorisation from the Executive to go out to public consultation from 18 May 2026 for six weeks.

The Strategic Director for Place in presenting the report made the following points:

·        a team of consultants had been appointed primarily to lead on engagement and undertake detailed research, bringing together the extensive existing evidence on culture in Exeter into a comprehensive baseline resource document to support consultation;

·        engagement had taken place over a six month period and involved over 600 residents, individual artists and cultural organisations, with a strong and positive level of participation;

·        the engagement process included multiple stages, culminating in a stakeholder summit at Exeter College;

·        further targeted workshops and in?person engagements were also held to explore outstanding issues and ensure views were fully captured;

·        consultant work was now complete and that the draft strategy had been refined internally, working with the Portfolio Holder, ahead of consultation;

·        subject to approval, the strategy would be published for online consultation from 18 May, in line with the City Centre Strategy timetable;

·        the draft vision focusing on creative confidence, inclusion and connection to culture, environment and heritage, supported by the headline: ‘Exeter: a City of Creative Confidence’;

·        the strategy was structured around the four key themes as outlined in the report;

·        the next steps included the consultation running from 18 May, with consultation outcomes being reported to Executive in August, to recommend adoption by Full Council in September; and

·        the action planning would be developed alongside the Exeter Partnership and the Connected Culture group, with an emphasis on sector ownership, collaboration and strengthening the collective voice of Exeter’s cultural sector to attract investment and funding.

During the discussion, Executive Members raised the following points and Questions:

·        the Cultural Strategy and its ambition were welcomed, particularly the links between environment and culture;

·        it was enquired as to how the consultation would reach residents who felt culture was not for them, noting concerns that an open, predominantly online consultation might not engage those groups, and how breadth and inclusivity of feedback would be ensured;

·        the importance of both the City Centre and Cultural Strategy consultations was highlighted, but their parallel timing and overlapping audiences was noted;

·        it was asked how officers intended to present and manage the two consultations to avoid any consultation fatigue and maximise participation across both;

·        clarification was sough on the composition of the group that would help deliver the Cultural Strategy action plan, including their composition, how members had been selected, and how the group had been convened; and

·        the wording of Theme 2 (connecting the ecosystem), was unclear and it was suggested that explicitly referencing “grassroots” culture within the theme would  make its intent clearer and more accessible to readers;

The Portfolio Holder for Arts, Culture & Tourism reflected on the resident survey findings, which showed an overall high satisfaction with cultural provision, but emphasised the importance of the action plan in addressing those who still experienced barriers. He highlighted specific groups such as young people, individual artists, creative practitioners and ethnic minority communities, and questioned whether governance structures of key cultural institutions were sufficiently representative.

In response to questions and points raised by Executive Members, the Strategic Director for Place advised:

·        work would continue in proactively reaching all relevant sectors during consultation, and working closely with engagement colleagues to ensure an inclusive outreach;

·        the consultation survey included questions aimed at identifying and addressing barriers to participation;

·        a shared digital landing page would be used to allow participants to clearly see both strategies and choose which consultation to complete, with the option to return and complete the second, ensuring neither consultation was missed;

·        all theme groups operated through the Exeter Partnership and membership was self?selected from partner organisations, rather than appointed by the City Council;

·        the groups were supported by the Council through meeting coordination and secretariat support and Members volunteered their time;

·        the groups met quarterly, and arrangements remained flexible to allow movement and additional participation; and

·        the suggestion regarding clearer wording for Theme 2 was welcomed. It was  confirmed that the theme title would be revised to explicitly reference “grassroots” culture, to improve clarity and accessibility of the strategy language.

An opposition group leader requested that the same amendment previously discussed, also be applied to page 39 of the Equality Impact Assessment. They also sought clarification regarding the engagement approach for protected characteristics, noting that page 39 confirmed consultation links would be shared with groups supporting gender reassignment and race, but that a similar reference was absent under sexual orientation on page 40. The Member asked for reassurance that appropriate outreach would also be undertaken for that protected characteristic.

In response to questions raised by opposition Members, the Strategic Director for Place confirmed that the Equality Impact Assessment would be updated.

The Leader moved the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Wright, voted upon, and CARRIED unanimously.

RESOLVED that:

1) the publication of the draft Cultural Strategy 2026 - 2031 be approved for public consultation from 18 May 2026 for six weeks; and

2) delegated authority be granted to the Strategic Director for Place, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder, to agree a change to the consultation date if required.