Cllr Stewart Wheeler, Cabinet Member for Hubs, Governance, Support Services, Heritage & Arts and Customer Care, will explain the decision to reduce the grant to Salisbury Art Centre and answer questions.
The Director of Salisbury Arts Centre will circulate a report at the meeting, detailing the effects of the grant cut.
Minutes:
The Chairman introduced the item giving some background information. Cllr Stuart Wheeler, Cabinet Member for Hubs, Governance, Support Services, Heritage & Arts and Customer Service, was welcomed to the Area Board and invited to address the meeting.
Cllr Wheeler explained the decision to reduce the grant funding to the Salisbury Art Centre with the main points focusing on:
· Wiltshire Council had a reduction in grants from central government and needed to reduce its services.
· The cost of delivering services had increased and Wiltshire Council had to change the way they were working. Internally there had been major cuts but that had no produced enough savings and the decision to make cuts to the Art Centre, albeit a difficult decision, had to be made.
· Since 2009 Wiltshire Council had retained funding when other authorities had cut funding for art centres. Last year more funding was sought from the voluntary and community services.
· It was noted that 70% of the investment from the Arts Council goes to Salisbury compared to other areas, which is why the decision was made to cut funding for Salisbury.
· It is hoped that this will harbour cooperation and communication between all of the arts facilities throughout Salisbury and enable joined up working to reduce costs and help ease the difficulties.
· Cllr Wheeler had spoken to the Arts Council about continuing their funding for the Art Centre.
· Wiltshire Council were committed to working alongside the Art Centre to identify ways to source funding.
Questions were taken from the public:
Q: Why was £89,000 taken from only one place? Should it not have been spread out for all to bear the pressure?
A: It was recognised that salami slicing would cause all of the organisations to ultimately cease operation. For that reason, the long term plan made sense to take from the Art Centre.
Q: Could the City Hall, which brings in a lot of revenue, up their rental charges?
A: It is key for all of the provisions to start talking and co-operating. Such as designing a centralised ticketing system and promoting one another as each provision offers something different.
A petition was handed to Cllr Wheeler to stop the funding cut noting that the art centre would take years to pick back up.
Questions were taken from the Board Members:
Cllr Ricky Rogers:
It was noted how strong the feelings in the community were for the Art Centre and Wiltshire Council should reconsider during the next budget. Community projects and those areas further away from the centre of Salisbury would drop because that is the only access they had to an art centre.
Cllr John Walsh:
Only three weeks’ notice was given which was unacceptable and would have profound immediate impacts.
The Director of the Salisbury Art Centre gave a presentation on the impacts of the funding cuts which highlighted:
· Only 3 weeks’ notice given about the cuts, which has put the centre in a difficult situation.
· Funding from the Arts Council is at risk due to the lack of local level support from the Council which means the long term existence of the centre is at risk.
· Lose three permanent staff including the Engagement and Participation Project Managers.
· Reduce café, bar and box office staff.
· Close Sundays.
· Cuts to marketing.
· Free events would be difficult to continue without the Councils support.
The work of the Art Centre was highlighted and it was noted that by losing three permanent employees, work in the communities would be severely affected especially among disadvantaged young people.
Questions were taken from the public:
Peter Williams (stakeholder), made a statement about the process in which the decision was taken and that he was not aware of any consultation having been completed. The decision was noted as being discriminating against disadvantaged groups with local members unaware of the decision. Two questions were put forward for answers at the next Area Board meeting:
Q1: How does Wiltshire (having sacked the Chief Executive) ensure that within the Cabinet model there is always a clear and unambiguous separation of policy from implementation, and how do the people of Salisbury hold the Cabinet to account?
Q2: When was the decision made that the Arts Centre should take the full cut in the arts budget, who were consulted (a complete list please - organisations, Cabinet members, staff and individuals), what objective and comparative data for all grant recipients in Wiltshire was used to inform that decision, and where in the archives of Wiltshire Council is all the information recorded so that it can be reviewed by the public?
Q: Salisbury Town Council asked about the option to raise council tax and urged the Art Centre to get in touch with them so they could see where and if they could help.
Q: Who was the current rep on the Art Centre Board?
A: It was noted the Wiltshire Council had appointed someone, although that was not relevant to the discussion.
Q: What statutory provision was currently provided? What happens elsewhere In the county in other art centres? Is there an opportunity for the three art centres across Wiltshire to co-operate and work together?
A: Cllr Wheeler informed the meeting that he currently sat on the Art Council Board and South West Art Council whom were all fully aware of the situation and had made a case that no centre should receive funding cuts from them. Cllr Wheeler urged the three art centres to start working together. Cllr Wheeler would take the questions away with him as he was not in a position to answer all of the questions.
Statements by the Board Members:
Chairman:
Noted that he would be writing a letter to Jane Scott and hope that the other Members would sign and support him.
Cllr Ian Tomes:
Not sure Wiltshire Council fully understands the impact and importance of the Art Centre on Salisbury’s culture and economy. The centre was helping people get back into society.
Cllr John Walsh:
Agreed to sign the letter and was disappointed that only three weeks’ notice was given.
Cllr Mary Douglas:
Cllr Douglas agreed with the other board members and noted that it was key to focus on what they had gained, such as organisation working more collaboratively. It was also important for better communication and working between the people, Cabinet and the Area Board.
Cllr Bill Moss:
Noted that it was the right decision as it would have destroyed any other organisation and that for a long time cuts have been coming and organisations should have started preparing. Cuts could not have been made to other areas such as schools and hospitals.
Cllr Richard Clewer:
Noted that it was a very difficult situation to be in although priorities needed to be taken into consideration hence he understood the decision. He was hopeful that going forward they could start to look at possible outcomes.
Wiltshire Council were limited in their powers in raising council tax as they did not have the freedom as the Town Council had. Although the issues on discrimination on groups concerned him and he would take that further to be looked into.
Cllr Ricky Rogers:
Asked if cllrs could help then to please let them know. Art in Salisbury was important for everyone not just those who could afford it.
Chairman:
Thanked Cllr Wheeler for his attendance and hoped that he now understood the frustrations of the community. He noted that he could not justify the cuts coming from one organisation and that he would write to Jane Scott.