Issue - meetings

Report of the Director for Children’s Services. To be introduced by the Cabinet member for Children, Schools and Families.

This report recommends Haringey Music Service as the Hub Lead Organisation

for North London as part of the Arts Council England Music Hub Investment

Programme.

Cllr Gordon recused herself from the meeting for this item.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families introduced the report which sought approval of the receipt of grant funding for Haringey Music Service to become the North London Music Hub Lead Organisation. The Cabinet Member outlined the following in her introduction:

-       It was agreed that amongst the five boroughs Haringey Music Services would take be the lead organisation in a new North London Music Hub programme funded by the Arts Council.

-       Haringey would hold the overall budget and administer the grant between all five boroughs. Each of the five boroughs would now have access to new equipment and instruments.

-       There would be no financial risk to the Council, as the grant the Arts Council has given also includes an administrative charge.

In response to questions from Cllr Carlin, Cllr Hakata, the discussion was as follows:

-       It was clarified that the original funding that Haringey received for its Music Services would not be at risk as it would be absorbed into the one overall grant. In addition, the administrative charge would also be included.

-       It was noted that the National Music Education Plan mapped out ‘cold spots’ as to where area disparities were in music services provision across all boroughs. All consortiums would now see where these ‘cold spots’ were and could now share expertise in all areas. In addition, the Arts Council conducted an external quality assurance as part of the conditions of funding.

RESOLVED

1. To approve acceptance of the grant funding set out in this report (£2,341,580) to proceed with the proposal for HMS to be the Hub Lead Organisation for the North London Music Hub as part of the ACE Music Hub investment programme as permitted by Contract Standing Order 17.1 where the grant is valued at £500,000 or more.

2. To agree that LBH will administer the funding to consortium members taking a top slice of 3.75% for the administration of the North London Music Hub from Consortium members namely, Barnet Education Arts Trust, Camden Music, Enfield Music Service and Music Education Islington.

3. To agree that HMS will be the Hub Lead Organisation using a flow through model of grant funding to consortium members as per the suggested Department for Education funding formula. Each Hub Lead Organisation will receive a proportion of the overall Music Hubs programme funding amount based on the number of eligible pupils in each Local Authority area that the Music Hub serves. Ninety percent of the funding is distributed based on the total number of pupils registered on roll. Ten percent of the budget is allocated according to the Hubs’ share of the total number of pupils who are eligible for free school meals. This recognises that these pupils will need greater support from Hubs than others in order to take up certain musical opportunities.

4. To agree the timely mechanism of receiving the Music Hub grant from ACE and payment to consortium members.

Reasons for decision      

In  ...  view the full minutes text for item 158