To approve the withdrawal of the Arts Commissioning Grants to external organisations from 2014-15.

THAT:           

That the payments of Arts Commissioning Grants made by Herefordshire Council to external arts organisations are withdrawn from April 2014

To make a saving of £65,296 in 2014-15 to support the corporate financial strategy and enable Council resources to be focussed on priority services.

The payment of Arts Commissioning Grants is continued.

The Council’s financial position is such that, to enable essential services for its most vulnerable residents to be maintained, it must reduce both the range and the level of services provided to the minimum necessary whilst meeting statutory requirements, unless there are clear reasons to do otherwise.

If the Arts Commissioning Grants are not withdrawn the Council will have to make further reductions elsewhere in its service provision.

The payment of Arts Commissioning Grants are continued but at a reduced level, for example a 50% decrease in the total funding available for 2014-15, reducing to zero funding by end of 2015-16. This would enable organisations to plan for adjustments to their funding and to mitigate the impact on their activities.

In relation to the potential disproportionate impact upon groups with Protected Characteristics an option would be to maintain 50% of the funding and commission it to organisations which focus their activity on these groups.