MINUTES. Creative Scotland Board Meeting Thursday 16 th February, 2017 Board Room, Waverly Gate, Edinburgh

Transcription

1 MINUTES Creative Scotland Board Meeting Thursday 16 th February, 2017 Board Room, Waverly Gate, Edinburgh Attended: Richard Findlay (RF), Chair David Brew (DB) Erin Forster (EF) Barclay Price (BP) Maggie Kinloch (MK) Iain Aitchison (IA) Sheila Murray (SM) Karthik Subramanya (KS) Cate Nelson-Shaw (CN-S) Ruth Wishart (RW) For items 1 5 inclusive Present: Janet Archer (JA) Chief Executive Kenneth Fowler (KF) Director of Communications Ian Stevenson (IS) Director of Finance Philip Deverell (PD) Director of Strategy (for item 5) Charlotte Ormston (CO) Senior Executive Assistant (Note taker) Jonathan Pryce (JP) Director of Culture, Tourism and Major Events, Scottish Government 1. Apologies and declarations of interest The Chair welcomed attendees and in particular Jonathan Pryce, attending for the first time in his position as Director for Culture, Tourism and Major Events. Apologies were received from Karen Forbes. No declarations of potential conflicts of interest were made Board Approval of Minutes 15 th and 19 th December 2016 The minutes of the Board meeting held 15 th December, 2016 were reviewed. BP requested inclusion of the word further in item 6 so that the phrase reads: explore what we might further contribute to the Review. The remainder of the minutes were approved as a true and fair record of that meeting. CS Board 16 Feb 2017 Minutes 1

2 The minutes of the Board meeting held 19 th December, 2016 were reviewed and approved as a true and fair record of that meeting. 2.2 Matters arising SM noted the previous Board action from the 15 th December concerning the need for quick turnaround of minutes. An update on YMI was requested. JA indicated that there had been no change in the YMI budget reduction from the Scottish Government. IM noted that the YMI Annual Plan would be shared with the Board at its March meeting. DB requested more detailed breakdowns of ring-fenced GIA in future years prior to any commitment being made against expenditure. Action: Executive to ensure swift turnaround of minutes for Board review - CO. Action: YMI Annual Plan agenda item at March Board meeting - IM. Future planning should take into account DB request for more detailed budgetary information on ring-fenced grant in aid - IM 3. Executive Report JA presented the Executive Report to the Board. A discussion took place on the Citizens Theatre capital development plans and recent positive discussions between RF/JA and Glasgow City Council. JA noted the positive contribution from the Screen Sector Leadership Group work in helping bring different perspectives together from across the sector. An update on RBGE was noted and JA reported on her attendance at the Art Working Group s first meeting. Scotland in Venice was discussed. It was suggested that there should be better collaboration across different nations of the UK in Venice. JA reported that all UK Arts Council heads had met with the British Council to discuss this. DB volunteered to be more involved in Gaelic work, including partnership with Bòrd na Gàidhlig. The pre-christmas evidence session given by JA and IM at the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee of the Scottish Parliament, was discussed. KF noted the increasingly positive relations between CS and MSPs, as evidenced in the latest MSP survey. The review of Touring was highlighted and the upcoming publication of the report noted. A number of organisations experiencing financial challenges was discussed. The CS presence at the Berlin Film Festival was discussed, highlighting the approach to promote Scotland as a visible presence, alongside UK partners. Clarification of the Scottish Government s Creative Industries Advisory Group CS Board 16 Feb 2017 Minutes 2

3 and its relationship to SCIP was requested. JP explained the function and intended aims of the new group, noting its complementarity to SCIP. It was noted that Clive Gillman attends as an observer on behalf of Creative Scotland. JA highlighted CS work being undertaken in Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). MK and KS expressed interest in involvement with the EDI group being formed. Proactive language in future communications around EDI was encouraged to help raise the importance of this work. JA noted a recent meeting with the CEO of Inclusion Scotland and potential internship opportunity. IM noted Board training on EDI at a future meeting. JA noted CS work on Place and KF added that this will be the focus of the forthcoming Parliamentary Cross-Party Group on Culture meeting. It was agreed to recirculate information about this meeting to the Board. KF noted the update on brand work being undertaken and will seek further Board input in March. Action: DB to be involved in Gaelic work, as appropriate. Action: More proactive language to be used in future messaging on EDI. Action: Board EDI training to be undertaken at a forthcoming meeting. Action: Parliamentary Cross-Party Group on Culture meeting information to be recirculated. Action: Brand work to return to Board for input in March. 4. Board Development A discussion took place on areas of focus for Board development. JA noted the experience of recent SLT Leadership Development Sessions with Jan Polley and potential for work with the Board. Themes identified included the Board s role in maintaining key stakeholder relationships; Executive/Non-Executive accountabilities and joint working; understanding specialisms and the work of Specialism Heads; setting and managing the delivery of strategic priorities in a changing environment Action: Board members were requested to send further suggestions to JA. Action: CO to schedule an initial Board Development Session as soon as possible. 5. Creative Scotland Development Approach JA presented a paper exploring CS development approach, noting the context of a continuously changing environment, and the need for a more prominent CS development role to help support the arts, screen and creative industries in new and different ways to deliver the 10-year plan. It was noted that the paper had been informed by work undertaken with Specialism Officers with JA. CS Board 16 Feb 2017 Minutes 3

4 This included helping to identify and agree where CS interventions can most make a difference; working with partners to create the conditions for the arts, screen and creative industries to thrive; growing resources and new opportunities for funding. The synergies of CS four functions (funding, development, advocacy and influencing) was discussed, alongside a need to carefully rebalance limited capacity to deliver an increased development role. The potential opportunity to connect prominently with the National Cultural Strategy was also identified to help deliver a more effective development role. Caution was expressed to ensure any financial focus respected the delicate balance of current public/private support. It was recognised that development support is manifest in multiple forms, not just financial. It was agreed that strong leadership from CS and across the sector will be required to achieve meaningful and long-lasting impact. Board members welcomed the paper and discussion which had taken place, requesting that a further paper be brought to the next meeting, providing more detail on current development activity, e.g. arts and health, to help identify and agree priority areas of development focus. A particular interest in international collaboration was noted. Action: A further paper, providing more detail of current development focus and potential options, to be provided for discussion at a future Board meeting. 6. Screen Unit Update JA introduced the Screen Unit update to the Board, including the Screen Sector Leadership Group Report made available at the meeting. PD presented the paper, noting the potential phased development over time based on feedback from partners and the Scottish Government on restricted levels of investment available. JA noted the need for scenario planning with partners, including the Scottish Government. Concerns were again expressed about the need for more effective partnership working to move on from the sector perception that CS is solely responsible for delivering Screen activity and the Screen Unit. The Board re-stated their unanimous agreement that, if Creative Scotland is to be publically accountable and lead the Screen Unit, there must be adequate funds attached to it and Creative Scotland must have mandated responsibility for these. RF stated the necessity of longer term funding rather than simply seed funding in order to be able to create sustainable budgets and deliver the step change required. JP assured the Board that a decision about the Screen unit will be made by the Scottish Government by July, and that the delivery of a Studio remains a priority. JP thanked Creative Scotland for the report. CS Board 16 Feb 2017 Minutes 4

5 7. Budget Planning 2017/18 JA introduced the draft Budget Planning paper to the Board, noting the downward profile of National Lottery funding and its implications for overall budgets and levels of support. JA noted the external RFO messaging that lower budgets were anticipated in future which would likely result in fewer organisations being funded. IS presented the Budget assumptions, noting the challenges to OPF and Targeted funds, as well as operational budgets. The Board requested clarification of possible options and a presentation format to more easily compare and understand year on year movements, before making a final decision. It was agreed to discuss detailed budgets and options with the Finance and General Purposes Committee before being brought to the 23 March Board meeting. IS noted the interdependency of budget approval with the publication of the 2017/18 Annual Plan being planned for April. Action: BP, as Chair of the Finance and General Purposes Committee, will discuss further at a meeting with IS, IM and JA. Action: Finance and General Purposes Committee to scrutinise options and bring forward a recommendation with the Executive to the Board, for approval. 8. Milestones 9. AOB JA introduced key activities and milestones for 2017/18 being used to help create the Annual Plan. PD presented the paper, noting that the RFO process is prominent throughout the year. The work this year to identify the connections and synergies across the arts, screen and creative industries strategies was recognised as being significant to future planning and ways of working. It was suggested that the Annual Plan format could consider presenting priorities in line with Creative Scotland s four functions: Funding, Development, Advocacy and Influencing. Action: Annual Plan format to be considered. Action: The Board requested that the dates and venues of future Board meetings be recirculated, and a good geographic spread of meetings planned. No other business was raised and the meeting concluded at 12.45pm. 10. Date of Next Meeting 23 rd March 2017, Riverside Museum Boardroom, Glasgow, 11am 3pm CS Board 16 Feb 2017 Minutes 5

6 Signed:. Richard Findlay, Chair of Creative Scotland Board Dated:... CS Board 16 Feb 2017 Minutes 6