Agenda item

To consider the report of the Chief Executive, (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive updating Members on progress of the Culture and Heritage activities being undertaken, seeking an extension to the Culture and Heritage Strategy (the Strategy) development until June 2026 along with related delegation to develop and submit the Strategy. Approval was also sought to use budget allocated to fund a special event performance in 2027 and develop an expression of interest in relation to the Town of Culture 2028 competition.

The following declarations of interest in relation to this item of business were raised:

·                Councillor J R Burrell-Cook declared he was Chairperson of the Maldon Festival who also received a grant along with a Where Quality of Life Matters grant funding for the Maldon Festival. He also declared he was a Member of the Visit Essex Advisory Board

·                Councillor J Driver declared he was mayor of Maldon

·                Councillor M F L Durham declared that the Maldon Festival as part of the cultural festival received a grant from Essex County Council and he was involved with the grant approval.

·                Councillor A Fittock declared he had made a financial donation to the Maldon Festival

·                Councillor N R Spenceley declared he was a trustee of the Maldon Festival

·                Councillor P L Spenceley declared she was a trustee of the Maldon Festival

The Head of Economic Development introduced the report and gave a short presentation which outlined some of the recent and upcoming engagement, the proposal deferral of the special event performance to 2027 and highlighted key points in relation to the Town of Culture 2028 competition and the benefits of this. It was noted that Cultural Engine had been appointed as the Council’s consultants. The presentation slides were circulated to Members during the meeting and would be available online afterwards.

Members were reminded of the recent decision by the Strategy and Resources Committee to allocate monies to allow detailed event planning and secure the headline act for a special event performance in 2026. Due to the availability of the headline act, it was proposed that the performance be moved to June 2027 and the Council was requested to agree to commit the funding to this date.

The report set out the themes which the Strategy would focus on, and it was noted to enhance stakeholder and resident engagement Officers were proposing that the engagement and development timeline be extended. This would allow for improved quality, depth and reliability of data collection and ensure that outcomes were evidenced and aligned with local priorities.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) had recently launched the first UK Town of Culture competition to spotlight contributions that towns make to the national cultural landscape. The report provided further details of the competition. It was proposed that the Council supported a UK Town Culture bid for Maldon Town, with Officers developing the work alongside appointed Culture and Heritage Strategy consultants. Appendix 1 to the report highlighted the key dates and significant benefits for the District.

Members expressed excitement at the opportunity the Strategy and Town of Culture competition would offer to the District. Councillor Durham advised that Essex County Council had recently hosted a trade and tourism delegation from America and provided further details regarding this.

In response to a question regarding stakeholders, the Head of Economic Development advised that if the recommendations were approved Officers would be consulting with key stakeholders.

The Head of Economic Development gave her assurance that if the Council reached the application stage the District as a whole would be covered and referred to the work done by the consultants, particularly the evidence base they had put together. Giles Tofield from Cultural Engine provided Members with an update on the work they had undertaken, including the areas they had focused on, recent presentation to the blackwater partnership and response from the public consultation. He highlighted the importance of including stories and how the Battle of Maldon was an original story which brought together a number of points of interest.

The Chairperson then moved the recommendations which were duly seconded and agreed. The Chairperson asked that his dissent in respect of recommendation (iv) be recorded).

The Head of Economic Development advised that there was an error and recommendation (iv) should read as follows:

“that subject to approval of recommendation (iii), development and submission of the Town of Culture 2028 and Heritage Strategy Competition Expression of Interest be delegated to the Senior Leadership Team in consultation with the Leader of the Council by the deadline of 31 March 2026”

The Chairperson put this amendment to the Council, and this was duly agreed.

RESOLVED

(i)             That the extension to the Culture and Heritage Strategy development to June 2026 be approved;

(ii)            That the budget allocated for the Special Event Performance Funding to be utilised for a performance in 2027 be approved;

(iii)          That officers develop the Council’s Town of Culture 2028 competition expression for interest;

(iv)          That subject to approval of recommendation (iii), development and submission of the Town of Culture 2028 Competition Expression of Interest be delegated to the Senior Leadership Team in consultation with the Leader of the Council by the deadline of 31 March 2026.