Margaret Hodge outlines
measures to streamline cultural 'delivery' in the regions
DEPARTMENT FOR
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT News Release (068/2008) issued by The
Government News Network on 2 July 2008
Culture Minister
Margaret Hodge today announced plans to strengthen DCMS engagement
in regional policy through a new, simplified and improved way of working.
For the first time, the Department's four key agencies in
the regions - Arts Council England, Sport England, English
Heritage and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council - will
have a duty to work together to jointly deliver a core set of
shared priorities across the culture and sport agenda.
These priorities include:
* Regional Strategies;
* Local
Area Agreements;
* Local Government commitment to culture and
sport;
* Place Shaping; and
* LOCOG liaison on 2012 and
the Cultural Olympiad.
This alliance, working with partners in local authorities, the
Regional Development Agencies, and other partner organisations,
will agree top priorities and create joint plans of action for the
culture and sport agendas for their region. These new arrangements
will still enable the four agencies to continue with their
existing and continuing sector specific responsibilities, but will
also introduce a way of using contributions from all regional
partners in a more targeted and effective way.
The plans announced today are the result of a review into the
Department's regional infrastructure, led by Margaret Hodge.
They will come into effect over the next 12 months and replace the
Department's eight Non Departmental Public Bodies, the
Regional Cultural Consortiums. This will deliver long-term savings
that will be reinvested directly into culture and sport provision.
Culture Minister Margaret Hodge said:
"We have come a long way in strengthening the case for the
role of culture and sport at the heart of a region, its economy
and its aspirations. That's thanks in no small part to the
work of our cultural consortia and their Boards over the last nine years.
But the regional landscape is shifting. With the new Local Area
Agreements imminent and Integrated Regional Strategies on the
horizon we need to put delivery at the heart of the debate at this
critical time. We can only do that by coupling advocacy with
action, speaking with a stronger more unified voice across our
sectors and giving a better service to Local Government and
Regional Development Agency partners."
Notes to editors
1. The DCMS regional infrastructure review has been led by the
Minister for Culture, Margaret Hodge, and supported by a working
group of key stakeholders. The working group included
representatives of the Department's non Departmental Bodies
with a significant presence in the English regions outside London:
Arts Council England, Sport England, The Museums, Libraries and
Archives Council, English Heritage, The Big Lottery Fund, Heritage
Lottery Fund, UK Film Council and Regional Cultural Consortiums.
It also included members from the Local Government Association,
Regional Development Agencies and the Regional Government Office
network. The review was conducted through a series of meetings
between autumn 2007 and spring 2008.
2. The Review had the following objectives, to:
* achieve
significant cost savings and efficiencies in terms of what needs
to be done regionally and by sharing back office functions and
premises.
* bring about better coordination to eliminate
duplication and improve the effectiveness of input into regional
strategies and LAAs.
* re-examine the need for a coordinating
body while not undermining the ability of individual NDPBs to
carry out their national responsibilities.
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