Agenda item

Report attached.

The Cabinet considered a report of Councillor Miles Parkinson OBE, Leader of the Council, on the draft terms of reference for the Hyndburn Culture & Heritage Investment Board (CHIB).

The Leader reminded Members that this item was linked to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund announcement made earlier in the meeting, which would help the Borough to build on its heritage and bring events into the town.  A number of interested bodies had been brought together and terms of reference drafted for a Board which would develop an investment plan based on the needs of various groups.  The Council would remain the decision-making body for any investments proposed.  A ‘shadow’ Board was already in existence and was chaired by the Chief Executive of the Hyndburn Leisure.

Councillor Munsif Dad BEM JP asked if the Board would include councillor representatives.  The Leader responded that the intention was to include stakeholders and volunteers with the relevant expertise.  Councillors would only be included if they could demonstrate that they provided added-value to the Board as constituted.

Approval of the report was not deemed a key decision.

Reasons for Decision

Interested bodies had recently come together to discuss how they could support heritage and culture within Hyndburn and had produced proposals to formally establish a CHIB.  The report included Terms of Reference, which detailed the intended aims, structure and operation of the proposed Board.

The CHIB would link to the Council’s aspirations and funding bids around Levelling Up and Town Centre improvement and was intended to enrich the whole Borough of Hyndburn.  It would develop a draft Cultural Investment Plan based on a consideration of the needs and aspirations of all groups, especially those who were currently excluded, for a variety of reasons, from cultural activities and the Plan would be presented to the Council for consideration and approval.

The CHIB would make recommendations to the Council, who would remain the decision-making body for any strategies and plans the CHIB brought forward.  The CHIB would support the Council’s work to develop and promote cultural / heritage activity in the Borough by helping to develop policy and suggested programmes and activities.

A ‘shadow’ version of the CHIB had been set up already and this was currently chaired by the CEO of Hyndburn Leisure and included, besides relevant Council officers, representatives with expertise in the cultural and heritage landscape.  Board membership would be refreshed, or additional co-optees sought, based on specific or changing needs, having regard to the CHIB’s work programme.

The CHIB would consider the best way to engage other stakeholders in its work, recognising that there were individuals and groups not represented on the Board who had much to offer and who were already engaged in cultural and heritage-based activity.

There were no alternative options for consideration or reasons

Resolved                                    -    That Cabinet:

(1)    Approves the draft terms of reference for a Hyndburn Culture & Heritage Investment Board (CHIB), as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

(2)    Delegates authority to the Council’s Chief Executive to agree or cease the membership of any individual appointee of the CHIB.