Issue - meetings

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Health and Community on the proposals for a Youth Cultural Festival in July 2008 as part of Halton’s Capital of Culture programme, and which sought approval to begin to commit expenditure to support the event.

            The Board had previously approved Halton’s approach to its involvement in Capital of Culture subject to proper consideration of the financial implications as part of the 2008/9 Budget process. Part of the approach was the proposal to host a major Youth Festival in 2008. It was envisaged that all Merseyside’s Authorities and their twin towns would be invited to participate in a two day show which highlighted and offered opportunities to exchange different local cultures.

            A budget of circa £150,000 would be required to host the event. £40k would be made available via the Capital of Culture Company and other forms of funding, as detailed within the report.

            It was noted that to allow the event to go ahead with confidence however, the event needed to be underwritten to a maximum of £110,000. The Executive Board agreed this in principle at its meeting of 29 March 2007 subject to proper consideration of the financial implications as part of the 2008/9 Budget process.

            In addition it was noted that the bulk of resources would be spent on providing infrastructure such as stages, marquees, toilets, stewards and other necessary health and welfare expenditure.

            RESOLVED: That

(1)   authority be granted for orders to be placed to a maximum value of £50,000 to enable the Youth Cultural Festival in July 2008 to take place;

(2)   approval be given in principle to a further £60,000, subject to further detail and it being considered as part of the overall budgetary process;

(3)   a report outlining the full details of funding requirements for the event be submitted to a future meeting of the Board; and

(4)   consideration be given to the use of a variety of sites in addition to Spike Island.

            This item was withdrawn.