Issue - meetings

Background:

This report provided details of the Medway Cultural Strategy 2020-2030. The report stated that this was a ten-year Medway-wide partnership strategy. It was a shared ambition for the future, built on extensive engagement across Medway and demonstrated how important culture was to Medway’s future, enabling everyone to have the opportunity to take part in, or contribute to cultural life.  

The report explained that consultation took place from November 2019 to September 2020. Stakeholders included the cultural sector across Medway and Kent, the education sector, community organisations, residents who engage, residents who do not engage, potential sponsors, funders and local businesses. Full details were set out in section 5 of the report.

The report also explained that the Strategy would be accompanied by an action plan to show how, as a partnership, the Strategy would be implemented. The action plan would be led by the Creative Medway Compact and driven by the Creative Medway Working Groups, bringing together projects, programmes and opportunities that matched the shared ambition and vision of the Strategy.

The Strategy had been considered by the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 3 December 2020, details of which were set out in section 14 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the Strategy, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

Reasons:

Only in becoming a committed partner can the Council fully participate and contribute to the delivery of the strategy and governance model, enabling us to embed culture within our priorities, securing Medway’s cultural and creative landscape for present and for future generations.