Notes London regional arts council Date Wednesday 5…

Notes
London regional arts council
Date                   Wednesday 5 April 2006
Time                   3.00-5.30pm
Location               Arts Council England, London, 2 Pear Tree Court, London EC1R 0DS

Present                Lady Hollick, Kate O'Rourke, Emmanuel Cooper, Cllr Joyce Ryan
                       Ian Jentle, Anupam Ganguli, Jenny Harris, Graham Sheffield, Cllr
                       Denise Jones, Sarah Weir, Donna Cullen, Hilary Carty, Claire Gevaux
Apologies              Jennette Arnold, Nicolas Kent, Cllr Peter Truesdale, Maggie Semple,
                       Elizabeth Howlett, Moira Sinclair
Guests                 Lawrence O'Hana, Isobel Hawson

                                                                                        Action        Date

The Chair thanked the Executive Director and her team
for organising the site visit to the Royal Festival Hall.


1. Declarations and apologies
1.1. Apologies were received from Jennette Arnold,
Nicolas Kent, Cllr Peter Truesdale, Maggie Semple
Elizabeth Howlett. Lady Hollick declared an interest in
South Bank Centre.


2. Notes of the meeting on 9 February
2006
2.1. The notes were agreed as an accurate record.


3. Matters arising
3.1. There were no matters arising.


Presentation: Sustained Theatre
Consultation
The Acting Director, Theatre outlined the context and
presented the main findings of the Sustained Theatre
Consultation report to the London regional arts council
members.

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It was noted that there were five key recommendations ­
    1. Building for the future ­a network of flexible
       spaces.
    2. Leadership at organisational, individual and sector
       level
    3. International connections
    4. Critical dialogue
    5. Looking at Arts Council England itself

The Acting Director, Theatre noted that the Arts Council
had responded to and welcomed the report.

The sector had requested that it led on the
recommendations with assistance from the Arts Council.
An interim working group, involving artists and Arts
Council colleagues, would begin to map out an action
plan that would be informed by the sector over summer.
The action plan would be circulated to the regions for
additional comments.

The Chair asked the Acting Director, Theatre to keep the Isobel              July
London regional arts council informed on the outcomes of Hawson
the recommendations.


Presentations: Own Art
The Assistant Officer, Own Art presented an update on
the scheme and in particular the expansion into London.
Further updates, in particular on the scheme in London,
would regularly be presented to members.


4. Chair's report
4.1. The Chair reported that there had been both a
National Council Away day and National Council meeting
since February. The National Council meeting took place
at the Unicorn Theatre for Children where National
Council members had a tour of the building. Discussion
at this meeting was centred on the national office review
and the possible impact on staff.

The Executive Director noted that a booklet outlining the

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national office review proposals could be made available
after the meeting. The Executive Director noted that the            CG       After the
review was not just about changing the structure but                         meeting
about changing the culture. A consultation period with
staff and unions would take place until June. The shared
support services (such as IT, HR, Finance and
Operations) would be looked at in December after the
Single System had been implemented.

Other items of discussion included:
· the Public Value exercise. The Chair noted that this
   would be discussed at the next London regional arts
   council meeting in July.
· the legacy of Creative Partnerships.
· the Sustained Theatre Consultation report and
   Contemporary Visual Arts strategy were approved

4.2. The Chair noted that she had attended a Vision for
London event hosted by the London office
communications department. The Chair noted that the
leadership and engagement in Vision for London
sessions was exemplary and congratulated the Executive
Director on an extremely enjoyable afternoon. The Chair
reminded London regional arts council members that
they were very welcome to join in future Vision meetings
and to let the Executive Assistant know should they wish
to attend.

4.3. The Chair reported that National Council would be
holding a blue skies meeting on the subject of disability.
The Chair noted that the Director, Development would be
writing a paper setting out London's position and that this
paper and a letter from a London regional arts council
member would be circulated to all regional council
members. The Chair asked for members to join a small
sub-group to discuss this in advance of the National                         Before end
Council meeting in May. The Executive Assistant was                 CG       of May.
asked to organise this meeting.

4.4.The Chair noted that she had seen the Modernism
exhibition at V&A and Zero Degrees by Akram Khan at

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Sadler's Wells.


5. Executive Director's report
5.1. The Executive Director presented a whirlwind tour of           CG       ASAP
China after her recent visit as part of Leaders Quest. A
further session for staff was being held in May and
London regional arts council members were invited to
join this extended presentation.
6. Corporate Plan
6.1. The Director, Arts presented an overview of the                CG       July
London region corporate plan and agreed to keep                              meeting.
London regional arts council members informed.


7. Radar
7.1 Regional council members noted and discussed the
paper.


Information

8. Turning point ­ a strategy for
contemporary visual arts
8.1. The Chair noted that if members wished to comment
on any aspects of this strategy they were welcome to
send comments to the Executive Director. It was further
noted that this strategy was approved by National
council. The Chair asked if anyone wished to take up the
vacant position for a regional council member on the
strategy group to let the Executive Director know.

8.2. London regional arts council members asked to
discuss the implications of the strategy for London at the
next meeting.                                                       CG       July


9. Grants for the arts statistics
9.1. The London regional arts council noted the paper.


10. National Audit Office summary of
feedback.

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10.1. The London regional arts council expressed their
congratulations to the Finance and Operations
department for achieving such a positive report.


14. AOB
14.1 The Chair extended her thanks and best wishes to
Kate O'Rourke who would be leaving the London
regional arts council in June after two terms in office.
Kate was thanked for her contribution on both the London
regional arts council and the London Arts Board on which
she had also served.




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