Status of the guidance:The Scottish Executive is committed to publishing guidance to assist Scottish local authorities on their role in cultural provision, in the context of the National Cultural Strategy. This consultative guidance has been prepared by a Scottish Executive/Convention of Scottish Local Authorities Working Group. The Working Group has agreed that the paper tabled by the Executive, which contained its initial proposals on the content and focus of the guidance, was an appropriate basis for development of that guidance. The Group agreed it was appropriate for the earlier paper to become a working document, and that it would be developed jointly by the Executive and the Working Group, until was it sufficiently advanced to permit wider consultation. The guidance is of advisory status, and is not intended be published in final form as a policy circular. The guidance is issued recognising the financial constraints local government faces. It does not advise local authorities on the level of investment they should be making in relation to cultural provision. It does however provide advice on how they should manage this provision within their existing authority-wide resources, in the context of Best Value. Overall, the guidance asks local authorities to recognise the over-arching nature of cultural provision. It identifies a checklist of 9 areas of cultural activity in which many - but not all - authorities are active. It advises authorities on developing the often under-recognised benefits cultural provision offers. The guidance is commended as good practice, to be adopted by all Scottish local authorities. It is intended to provide a comprehensive approach. The guidance encourages authorities to see cultural provision as greater than the sum of its parts. The guidance is designed to offer an integrated approach right across authorities' cultural provision, not one that is used selectively, in relation to certain activities only. Comments are invited on this consultative draft of the guidance. The final version will take account of views the Scottish Executive receives on the draft document. |