Issue - meetings

To receive the draft Culture Strategy.

The Cabinet Member: Leisure, Tourism, Culture and The Arts presented the Borough’s first Culture Strategy, seeking Cabinet’s approval and endorsement of the stakeholder engagement approach underpinning its development.

The report outlined the strategy as a borough-wide commitment to celebrating Telford & Wrekin’s unique heritage, cultural diversity and community spirit. Cultural investment was not only about enjoyment but also played a vital role in improving health and wellbeing, tackling social isolation, supporting the local economy, and fostering pride and belonging.

The report highlighted that cultural activity had contributed significantly to the Borough’s economy, attracting 3.2 million visitors annually and generating £220m return.

The strategy aimed to ensure cultural opportunities were inclusive and accessible to all residents, with a focus on community engagement, creative development, and economic growth. The report outlined the Council’s ongoing investment in events and venues, including the delivery of the new Telford Theatre, which had secured £15.5m in Government funding and would feature a 700 seat auditorium, a studio theatre and a community art room, enabling a broader programme of performances and outreach.

The report also noted the expansion of the Theatre on Tour programme and the Council’s successful free events programme, which had attracted over 100,000 attendees annually. Refurbishment plans were also outlined for amphitheatre located in the Telford Town Park to restore it as a 400 seat performance venue for music and theatre to further boost tourism, support wellbeing and revitalise the local art scene.

The strategy would be finalised later in the year, setting out a five-year vision for cultural growth.

Cabinet Members welcomed the Borough’s first Culture Strategy, describing it as a celebration of Telford & Wrekin’s rich heritage, creativity and ambition. They praised the report for highlighting the Council’s vibrant cultural offer and its role in making Telford a desirable place to live, work and visit. Members emphasised that the strategy reflected the administration’s continued ambition to expand access to arts and culture, building on over 300 years of creative history dating back to the Industrial Revolution. They commended the Council’s efforts to take cultural activity into communities through initiatives like the Theatre on Tour programme and the Council’s support for volunteer-led events, such as the Ironbridge Brass Band Festival, which was also praised for helping to grow community-led culture and tourism. Members also welcomed plans to restore the amphitheatre in Telford Town Park, recognising its potential as a unique performance venue.

The Conservative Group Leader noted the report and highlighted the borough-wide focus on events and the use of centralised ticketing and council communications to broaden local engagement. However, he observed that the report leaned heavily toward performing arts, which he felt reflected a narrow definition of culture. He urged the Council to consider a broader interpretation in future reviews, to include everyday cultural activities such as sports and fishing.

RESOLVED that:

a)    plans to expand the Council’s Theatre on Tour and Headline Events Programmes noting the positive impact these are having across communities be approved;

b)   the development and submission of a funding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16