Courtyard review - initial report published

A review group set up to examine Herefordshire Council’s funding of The Courtyard Centre for the Arts has made its report public.

The report marks the next stage in the process of reviewing the Council’s contribution to The Courtyard and ensuring the Council strikes a balance between sustaining the important arts venue, located on Hereford’s Edgar Street, and ensuring it benefits the wider community.

The review group has spent a number of months, starting in October last year, collecting information in a variety of ways on all aspects of The Courtyard. These included:

• A tour of the venue
• A review of documentation and financial information
• Inviting public comments via the local media
• Receiving written evidence from a range of organisations and user groups
• Interviews with key individuals

This information has now been collated and will be presented in a report to be considered by Herefordshire Council’s Social & Economic Development Scrutiny Committee when it meets on Monday next week, January 31.

The report highlights the wide variety and high standard of work undertaken by The Courtyard along with the valuable contribution it makes to the local community and to arts provision in the County.

It is important to note, however, that this is just the first stage in the review process.

The Review Group is not a decision making body and when the report is considered by the Social & Economic Development Scrutiny Committee, on Monday, January 31, it could amend, delete or add to the recommendations.

Once agreed, the report will then pass to Cabinet, whose members can make amendments, deletions or addition to the report before implementing any, all or none of the recommendations.

“I need to make it clear that we are still at a very early stage in the process,” said Cllr Chris Chappell, Chairman of the Social & Economic Development Scrutiny Committee.

“The review group has done an excellent job in looking at exactly what The Courtyard achieves and how it does this.

“It confirms that The Courtyard is a key facility for the arts in the County and I look forward to receiving the report and considering in detail what the recommendations of our report to Cabinet will be.

“As a major funder of The Courtyard, it’s encouraging for the Council to see the wide range of activities which take place at this venue.

“Because it’s public money we’re spending we need to ensure this is spent wisely and in the best interests of the people of Herefordshire.

“This report will go some way to ensuring that this happens – however, at the moment it’s simply too early to say what actions will be taken. This will become evident as the report is finalised and eventually considered by Cabinet,” added Cllr Chappell.