Decision details

Steve Lloyd, Libraries, Culture and Registration Services Manager and Heather Fox, Cultural Development Manager presented the Annual Report on the Lancashire Culture and Sport Fund.

Some updated monitoring and evaluation information from completed projects, an update to Appendix A, was shared with the committee at the meeting and a copy is attached to these minutes.

County Councillors Julia Berry and Mark Clifford declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item, as members/supporters of organisations who had received funding from the Lancashire Culture and Sport Fund.

In response to questions, members were informed that:

·  £55,000 per annum from the Fund's budget was spent on Spacehive's services.

·  Officers at the council worked with prospective applicants to support their applications to the Fund, for example ensuring they were constituted, and sign-posted to other grant schemes where appropriate.

·  Ahead of the first round of funding, information about the Fund had been shared with over 800 local organisations, including district councils, and awareness raising was supported by the Communications Service.

·  Following the recommendation of the Community, Cultural and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee's review of the Fund and recommendation, the Fund's maximum award had been reduced from £20,000 to £15,000. This had allowed funding to be awarded to more organisations and helped organisations, who may have been crowdfunding for the first time, to set realistic targets.

The committee applauded the well-run scheme and the positive impact it was having on communities and events across Lancashire. Members were pleased by the number of organisations applying to and supported by the Fund.

Resolved: That the Annual Report on the Lancashire Culture and Sport Fund be noted.