Agenda item

The Committee had before it a report which outlined the portfolio of projects that were proposed to be prioritised within the Education, Culture and Sport Service for the period 2011-15.  As part of this, the report highlighted those projects which required more significant investment with a more limited return, and therefore were not recommended to be prioritised within the existing capital and resource budgetary constraints.  The review of projects had been undertaken with consideration of the proposed budget savings and the reduction in staff capacity to support major initiatives.

The report listed the priority projects as follows:-

·                    Hosting the Arts and Business awards 2011 at the Music Hall and planning the 1^st Aberdeen Arts Achievement award

·                    The relocation of staff, museum artefacts and objects from the existing Frederick Street site, including the arts development service and staff

·                    Under Priority Based Budgeting, explore and recommend options towards the arms length delivery of current cultural services, in particular Museums and Galleries, and consideration of options to share or commission with neighbouring authorities

·                    Under Priority Based Budgeting, carry out a root and branch review of commissioned arts and sports services

·                    Redevelopment of Aberdeen Art Gallery

·                    Community Collections centre, to hold and make accessible the museums collections currently held in Frederick Street, Kittybrewster and the Art Gallery - this could also include wider cultural collections, such as Archives and Libraries

·                    An appraisal of the investment required for the Beach Ballroom

·                    Work with Creative Scotland to consider opportunities for future investment in the City, through increasing the number of foundation funded organisations, and other initiatives such as UK City of Culture

·                    Deliver and plan international initiatives such as the “Lively Cities” EU funded project

·                    Development of a heritage policy for the City

·                    The development of policies to support reading and literature in the City

·                    A policy to support the commissioning and funding of public art

·                    Consideration of the options for a Heritage Centre for the City through a phased refurbishment of the Central Library

·                    Work with colleagues in Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure to progress the opportunities for TIF (Tax Incremental Funding) for the City Centre and on further EU funded cultural projects

Secondary projects were as follows:-

·                    Support for the redevelopment of the Tivoli Theatre, Torry Battery and Aberdeen Arts centre

·                    Support for the redevelopment of the Music Hall (subject to the full scope of the project)

·                    Support to Peacock Visual Arts for any proposed capital project or any other future re-homing requirements

The report recommended:-

that elected members note and agree the contents of the report and the proposed portfolio of projects to be undertaken.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice-Convener, moved the recommendation contained in the report.

Councillor Laing, seconded by Councillor Cooney moved as an amendment:-

“that this Committee notes the contents of this report and the proposed portfolio of projects to be undertaken.”

On a division, there voted:-  for the motion (10) – the Convener; the Vice-Convener; and Councillors Corall, Cormie, Leslie, May, Robertson, Jennifer Stewart, Kevin Stewart and Yuill; for the amendment (5) - Councillors Collie, Cooney, Crockett, Farquharson and Laing; declined to vote (1) – Mr. G. Bruce; and absent from the division (6) – Councillors Boulton, Reynolds and Wisely; and Mr. A. Aitken, Mr. P. Campbell and Mr. S. Duncan.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.