Summary of HCL Workshop 17th January 2019

 

Key:     (1)        A vibrant leisure and cultural offer enjoyed by residents and attractive to visitors

(2)        Everyone has access to high quality parks and green spaces

(3)        Heritage is respected

(4)        Bio-diversity and environmental sustainability is respected

(Pride) Thinking of our services how can HCL contribute to creating Pride in our Borough?

 

Period to implement/ Timescale          Short (within 1 year)                Medium (1-2 years)      Long (3 years)

 

HCL      Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee

CHE      Communities, Housing and Environment Committee

SPST     Strategic Planning and Sustainable Transport Committee

PRC      Policy and Resources Committee

ECON    Economic Development

LC        Licensing Committee

 

Arts/ Culture

TOPIC

Strategic Plan Ref.

Timescale

Cttee.

Resources

Is it new

Partnership

Vibrant Arts scene

(1)

S.M,L

HCL

 

Yes

 

Use of Town Hall at weekends and Bank Holidays

(1)

S

HCL/PRC

Limited, caretaking

Yes

Yes with local groups etc

Street Theatre – Jubilee Square, Junction of Week Street/Fremlin Walk – Council to cover hire costs etc, also to have a public entertainments license for sites available to community groups

(1)

S, M

HCL

Staffing 0.1FTE, £5,000 revenue budget

Yes

Yes/ local groups etc

Buskers – street performers

(1)

S

HCL/LC

 

Yes

Yes

Cultural Quarter (All Saints, Archbishop Palace, Stables and Len House)

(Pride)

S,M,L

HCL

Staffing re review and Capital

Yes

Yes (Church)

Consider how to provide a 1,000 seat theatre, possibly convert Granada Cinema, or Len House?

(Pride)

S,M,L

HCL/PRC

Staffing re review and Capital

Yes

Yes (with Granada Bingo)

Hazlitt Arts Centre – make it look like a pretty little theatre

(Pride)

S

HCL

Minor works as part of maintenance

No

Yes with Park Wood Leisure

All Saints Church – Is the PCC interested in a development of the church to provide a 1,000 seat auditorium for music

(1, Pride)

S/M/L

HCL

Support to the PCC

Yes

Yes/ with All Saints PCC

Cultural Cohesion

(Pride)

S,M

HCL

Staffing, Revenue £20k-£40k a year

Yes

Yes with minority groups and Arts Council

Cultural Activities

(Pride)

 

HCL

Staffing, Revenue £20k - £40k a year

Yes

Yes with local groups and Arts Council

Community Theatres (Schools) Hubs around Borough

(1, Pride)

M

HCL

Revenue support

Yes

Yes Schools, Theatre Groups, Arts Council

Community Theatres (Pubs and other venues) Hubs around Borough

(1, Pride)

M

HCL

Capital then Revenue Support

Yes

Yes Pubs, Community Halls/ Centre, Theatre Groups, Arts Council

 

Community Events

TOPIC

Strategic Plan Ref.

Timescale

Cttee.

Resources

Is it new

Partnership

Community events

(1,Pride)

S,M,L

HCL

Staffing, Revenue Support maintain 2019/20 budget

Yes

Yes local groups

Carnival/Maidstone Festival each year (different themes for each year

(3)

M

HCL

Revenue £30,000,

Possible Sponsorship

Yes

Yes, Local Groups, Arts, Community, businesses

Celebrate events as they happen e.g. swan upping (Kentish lady sell tickets so public can become more involved and following the flotilla)

(3)

S

HCL

 

 

 

Look at other Boroughs re Leisure and Arts – Guildford, Chelmsford etc.

(Pride)

M

HCL

Travel Cost

Yes

Learning from others

Be more vibrant

(Pride)

M/L

HCL

 

 

 

 

Parks

TOPIC

Strategic Plan Ref.

Timescale

Cttee.

Resources

Is it new

Partnership

Commercial events – Mote Park

(1)

S

HCL

Existing

No

Yes

Preserve and Improve Parks

(1)

S

HCL

Existing

No

No

New Parks (major)

(1)

L

HCL/SPST

Capital/ $106, CIL

Yes

Yes/ potential developers

Green Corridors

(1)

S

HCL/SPST

Capital/ $106, CIL

Yes

Yes/ potential developers

River Medway

(1)

S

HCL

Capital/ $106, CIL

No

Yes, Riverside Partnership

Large Parks – Accessibility

(1)

M

HCL

$106, CIL

No

Yes/ disability groups

Facilities in Parks for Elderly, Young and Disabled

(1)

M/L

HCL

Capital,/ $106, CIL

Yes

No

Maintain high quality through investment including maintenance

(2)

S

HCL

Existing

No

N/A

Appropriate maintenance at the right time

(4)

S/M

HCL

Existing

No

N/A

Variety – not just play areas, might be quiet open space

(2)

S/M

HCL

Existing

No

N/A

Ensuring “accessibility” to all

(2)

M

HCL

Capital/CIL

Yes

Yes, work all minority groups

Clear identity for each park e.g. Victoria Park celebrates its heritage

(2)

M

HCL

Existing/ CIL

Yes

N/A

Interpretation and signage

(2)

S/M/L

HCL

Sponsorship/ Capital

Yes

No

Maidstone has every type of park and should celebrate this

(2)

S

HCL

Exiting

No

No

Appropriate planting and variety so the parks look different and fulfil different needs

(2)

S

HCL

Existing, Heritage Lottery

Yes

Consider potential sponsorship

Bringing workforce into borough – Skill’s academy

(2)

M/L

HCL

Capital and Revenue

Yes

Yes/ work with Hadlow College

Amphitheatre – improve usage

(Pride)

M/L

HCL

Existing

No

Yes - Riverside Partnership

 

Rural

TOPIC

Strategic Plan Ref.

Timescale

Cttee.

Resources

Is it new

Partnership

Promote out of town centre

(1)

M

ALL MBC

Limited – Parishes can raise money

No

Parishes

 

Museum

TOPIC

Strategic Plan Ref.

Timescale

Cttee.

Resources

Is it new

Partnership

Museum needs an upgrade

(1, Pride)

S/M/L

HCL

£5-7m

Yes

Funding, sponsorship, grant raising, MMF, BLF, Arts Council

Future for Carriage Museum – Review of options

(1)

M/L

HCL

?

Yes

Yes/ Arts Council

Museum Plan – more promotion – Fremlin Walk Pop Up Shops 2019

(3)

S

HCL

Increase publicity resources

No

N/A

Make it exciting/interesting – Linked to Museum Upgrade/ Refurbishment

(3)

S/M

HCL

Include within upgrade

Yes

N/A

Pop up museums in villages (Museum on the Move) -bid being prepared to the Arts Council for project funding.

(Pride)

M/L

HCL

Minor Capital/ Art Council grants

Yes

Yes/ Parish Council’s/ Libraries/ Community Centres

Arts Cinema

(1)

M

HCL

Part of Museum Upgrade

Yes

Yes with film societies

 

Heritage/ History

TOPIC

Strategic Plan Ref.

Timescale

Cttee.

Resources

Is it new

Partnership

Heritage Trails

(1)

S/M

HCL

Minimal

Yes

Work with local groups

Town and Village Tour Guides – historical

(1)

S/M

HCL

Limited Staffing

Yes

Volunteers

Local Plaque Scheme

(3)

M

HCL

Minor Resources $106, CIL, Parish Precepts

No

One Maidstone, Parishes

Local plaque scheme – make more people aware of it – trail

(Pride)

S

HCL

Minimal

Yes

Work with Museum

Educate the history of our towns and villages

(Pride)

M/L

HCL

Organise talks

Yes

Work with Museum  and local historical societies

Historical connections should celebrate this.

(Pride)

S/M/L

HCL

Minimal, Exhibitions etc

Yes

Work with Museum  and local historical societies

Don’t use the words ‘heritage’ and ‘respected’

(3)

S

HCL

None, cultural use of words

No

N/A

 

Town Centre

TOPIC

Strategic Plan Ref.

Timescale

Cttee.

Resources

Is it new

Partnership

Painting empty shop fronts

(1),(Pride)

S/M

ECON

Minimal, One Maidstone

Yes

One Maidstone, Mall, Shop Owners

Town Centre – has become open and wide which loses the hustle and bustle and Engage with business owners to improve the street scene

(Pride)

M/L

ECON/ HCL

Unknown

Yes

Yes/ One Maidstone

Engage with One Maidstone

(Pride)

S

HCL

None

Yes

Establish potential for a cultural partnership

Approach to vacant premises to use them as short term licences for arts studiosldsing

(Pride)

M

ECON/ HCL

Minimal

Yes

Work with landlords and artists to establish short term licences/ leases to use empty retail units

More soft landscaping – town centre is too hard, dirty

(Pride)

L

ECON/ CHE

Minimal staffing

Yes

Yes, One Maidstone

A boards – historic streets e.g. Gabriel’s Hill look unsightly.  Shouldn’t have them – enable hanging signs

(Pride)

M/L

Planning

Planning Enforce.

No

 

Granada House – unsightly and is MBC property, should lead by example

(Pride)

S/M/L

ECON

Capital

Yes

N/A

Heritage document for Gabriel’s Hill

(Pride)

M

HCL

CIL/ $106

No

Use heritage to refurbish buildings

Twilight economy

(Pride)

M/L

ECON

Marketing

No

Yes/ work with restaurants and twilight economy businesses

Trees in Jubilee Square

(Pride)

M/L

HCL

Minimal,  additional standard trees

Yes

N/A

Needs more planting and greenery

(Pride)

M/L

HCL

Up to £10,000 plus ongoing mtce.

Yes

Yes/ One Maidstone

 

Natural Environment

TOPIC

Strategic Plan Ref.

Timescale

Cttee.

Resources

Is it new

Partnership

New Bio-Diversity Plan (education – public, Councillors, MBC staff)

(1)

S

HCL

In Budget

No

Yes/ training for Councillors and MBC Staff (compulsory)

Wilding Maidstone

(1)

S

HCL

In Budget

No

Continue

Environmental Audits - Audit operations to check carbon impact

(1, 4)

M

PRC

Staff Training across all MBC Services and Teams

Yes

N/A

More Trees in Streets etc

(4, Pride)

S/M/L

CHE

Budget for tree planting schemes

Yes

Yes/ Local Residents

Wider “green spaces” – verges, central reservations

(2)

S/M/L

HCL

Minimal, use current budget differently

Yes

N/A

Make it part of people’s everyday life

(4)

S/M/L

HCL

Publicity

Yes

Yes/ local residents and community/ environmental groups

How people can enjoy their environment and wildlife

(4)

S/M/L

HCL

Publicity

Yes

Yes/ local residents and community/ environmental groups

Take seriously housing and transport issues

(4)

S

All MBC

None

No

N/A

Demonstrate to public what is possible e.g. wildflower meadows, Go Green Go Wild

(4)

S

HCL

Minimal, use current budget differently

Yes

Yes/ local residents and community/ environmental groups

Give staff more expertise and encourage them to engage with the public on what they are doing e.g. pruning and give them confidence to pass on their knowledge through conversations

(4)

M/L

HCL/PRC

Minimal, use current budget differently

Yes

N/A

 

Young People and Children Activities

TOPIC

Strategic Plan Ref.

Timescale

Cttee.

Resources

Is it new

Partnership

Holiday Activity Review – Scrutiny Review

(1)

S

HCL

Minor staffing for Scrutiny review (Leisure Ctr Profit Share)

Yes

Yes/ Scrutiny Review Process

Holiday Activity Review – follow up outcome of scrutiny review

 

 -Dependent on above, schemes tend to be cost recovery with

   sponsorship and charging etc

(1)

M

HCL

Dependent on above,

Yes

Yes/ with current and potential partner organisations

Children’s Play Areas – consider the 1/2mile radius spacing

(2)

S/M

HCL

CIL/ $106

No

 

Is there enough for teenagers?  Successors to youth clubs – Scrutiny Review

(Pride)

S

HCL

Minor staffing for Scrutiny review (Leisure Ctr Profit Share)

Yes

Yes/ Scrutiny Review Process

Is there enough for teenagers?  Successors to youth clubs – Follow on – follow up of scrutiny review

(Pride)

M

HCL

Dependent on above

Yes

Yes/ with current and potential partner organisations

 

River

TOPIC

Strategic Plan Ref.

Timescale

Cttee.

Resources

Is it new

Partnership

River Walk – bring the river to life

(1)

S/M

HCL

CIL/ $106

Yes

Yes/ River Partnership

Bringing the River back to the people

(1)

S/M

HCL

CIL/ $106

Yes

Yes/ River Partnership

Consider how to use the Riverside Amphitheatre

(Pride)

M/L

HCL

Minimal

No

No

 

Sport

TOPIC

Strategic Plan Ref.

Timescale

Cttee.

Resources

Is it new

Partnership

Sport – International Athletes (make the most of them)

(Pride)

S/M/L

HCL

Minimal/ use of Borough Insight

Yes

Yes/ sports Clubs and Maidstone Leisure Centre

Sports Festival – next year

(Pride)

S/M

HCL

In Budget (within current DMP Plan)

No

Yes/ sports clubs and Maidstone Leisure Centre

 

Volunteering

TOPIC

Strategic Plan Ref.

Timescale

Cttee.

Resources

Is it new

Partnership

Volunteering – Increase opportunities in Parks, Museums, Residents Groups, Arts

(Pride)

S/M

HCL

Need minimal increase in staffing with voluntary co-ordinators in Parks Service (continue current fixed term role) and Museum (0.2fte)

Expand current approach

Yes with Volunteers

Health and wellbeing use HCL services to work that way

(Pride)

M

HCL

As above

Yes

Yes with Involve and West Kent CCG

Bio-Diversity and Environmental Sustainability Volunteering opportunities

(4)

S

HCL

As above

Yes

Yes with volunteers

 

General

TOPIC

Strategic Plan Ref.

Timescale

Cttee.

Resources

Is it new

Partnership

What is Heritage – Mapping Services not just MBC - Scrutiny

(1)

S/M

HCL

Minor staffing for Scrutiny review (Leisure Ctr Profit Share)

Yes

Yes, scrutiny process

Promote what we’ve got here – Hush Heath and Chappel Down

(1)

S

HCL

DMP

Yes

Yes with attractions

Communicate what’s available

(1)

S

Insight

Use of Borough Insight

No

No

Don’t try to be all things to all people – focus on what we are good at

(1)

S/M/L

ALL MBC

Align Financial and Staffing Resources to the new Strategic Plan

Yes

No

Be clear about what our standard is

(1)

M

ALL MBC

None, needs members clarity

No

No

Identify any gaps in leisure provision

(1)

M/L

HCL

Need to do above scrutinises and a desktop review

Yes

N/A

Show people the opportunities Talk the place up not down – highlight everything that does happen and what’s good in the Borough

(1, Pride)

S/M/L

Insight

Use of Borough Insight

No

No

Pride in the place you live – not just the town of Maidstone

(Pride)

S

ALL MBC

None

No

N/A

People should feel safe

(Pride)

S

CHE

Current Service

No

Yes Police, One Maidstone

We have to have the pride first – it starts with us

(Pride)

S

ALL MBC

Align Financial and Staffing Resources to the new Strategic Plan

No

N/A

Look nice–we need to get our bits right and then engage with other land owners

(Pride)

M/L

ALL MBC

Use of property and Mtce Budgets

No

N/A

Street furniture – railings, lamp posts, signs

(Pride)

L

SPST

Needs policy enforcement

No

N/A

Tougher against anti-social behaviour

(Pride)

M/L

CHE

?

No

Yes with police and other agencies

Bio-fuel/electric – encourage own/contractors fleet

(4)

M/L

PRC

Capital

Yes

No

Keeping the Borough clean and tidy – well maintained

(4)

S

CHE

In Budget

No

No

 

Parishes

TOPIC

Strategic Plan Ref.

Timescale

Cttee.

Resources

Is it new

Partnership

Encourage parishes to use their and MBC open spaces

(2)

S

HCL

No

No

Yes/ Parishes

Tap into parishes more

(2)

S

ALL MBC

No

No

Yes/ Parishes

Work with Parishes

(1)

S

HCL/PRC

No

No

Yes/ Parishes