Agenda item

Report of the Director of Innovation & Growth.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Innovation and Growth relative to the William Beckford and John Cass statues.

Members expressed concerns about the proposals in the report. A Member who had served on the Statues Working Party (SWP) said that their experience of SWP had been that the focus of the project should be on explaining the historical context of the statues rather than on an artistic response, which might be either a work of art or a poetry commission. Other Members of the Committee agreed with the view that the historical explanation should be at the centre of the project. A Member said that they hoped the Committee would have sight of the finished explanation. The Chair, who had also served on SWP, said that there had always been an intention to involve artwork in the project. In reply, Officers said that the historical context would be at the front and centre of the project and on the plaques. The artwork would support the explanation of the historical context and be accessible through QR codes included on the plaques. These codes would lead to a website which would provide further explanation of the historical context and the artistic responses. Significant but separate work on the educational side would be run by the Education Services in the Community and Children’s Services Department and would be included in the paper to go to the Court of Common Council.

Members also expressed their concern that the report recommended that the advisory panels be split by age group. An Officer replied that the proposal to split the consultation panels by age was on the recommendation of the heritage industry. However, Members felt that an integrated intergenerational panel would be beneficial, as it would allow the different age groups the opportunity to listen to the other, rather than separate panels for different age ranges.

A Member commented that the proposals in the report did not make any reference to SEND stakeholders being included in the groups, and that they felt it was important to be inclusive among the range of SEND young people. An Officer replied that the groups will be representative and will include the SEND community as well as amplifying the voices of those whose lives are most affected by Beckford and Cass’s legacy today.

A Member said that they would prefer for the Committee to see a revised version of the report with a focus on the explanation for retain and explain, and the groups for consultation, so that all Members could be clear on what they were endorsing before a paper went to the Policy and Resources Committee.

The Chair suggested that Members endorse the proposals but add that they strongly recommended an integrated intergenerational panel rather than separate panels for different age ranges.

RESOLVED, that – Members:

• Endorse the proposal for a co-creation/collaborative approach across age groups to develop the statues’ interpretation to the Policy & Resources Committee, and strongly recommend an integrated intergenerational panel rather than separate panels for different age ranges. In accordance with Standing Order 38, James Tumbridge's vote against the resolution was recorded.