Progress information (how did it develop, compared with the original plan?) The Pathfinder has achieved an improvement in the levels of City and Shire joint working around cultural provision, primarily by providing a Government endorsed opportunity to review approaches to historical provision and relationships. Networking and co-ordinated marketing approaches are achievements from the Pathfinder project, which, through the steering group, facilitated joint working. The marketing review has been carried out and provides recommendations for future joint activity. The majority of the Marketing recommendations will be addressed by the North East Audience Development Initiative, which has received £130,000 of Lottery support. At this stage it is unclear whether the Pathfinder has had an impact of increased joint planning and joint funding of projects. As the new structures and processes are formally agreed and adopted by the relevant Council and community planning groups, this can be formally evidenced. Greater inclusion of culture in the Community Planning process was identified as a performance indicator. The extent to which this has been achieved in Aberdeen City will form part of the review of challenge forums and the wider community planning process which is currently under way. Anecdotal discussion with stakeholders suggests that the pathfinder did facilitate improved engagement with community planning at a strategic level. Aberdeenshire Council's Community Planning Partnership Executive Board has scheduled a discussion regarding the proposed joint cultural planning structure for culture and its links to community planning in February 2009. The recent circulation of 'Culture delivers' will assist in embedding culture as a key tool in the community planning process. Elected Members in Aberdeen will contribute to the topic as part of the consultation being undertaken on the Cultural Strategy for Aberdeen City 2009 - 2014. This strategy utilises the same framework as the Aberdeenshire Cultural strategy 2009-12. The restructuring proposed by the new Chief Executive of Aberdeen City Council will also provide an opportunity to consider more closely aligning the structure of cultural services in Aberdeen with those of the Shire. :Due to the revised focus on establishing structures and processes rather than direct delivery of projects/services, the Pathfinder had less impact in terms of increasing participation levels within sectors of the community. However, there has been a perceived improved understanding of the value of community arts participation as a tool for community planning, and the potential role of artists within the process, Evidencing improved and greater collaboration between venues and the voluntary sector, and new audiences are not short term and will become clearer with the work being undertaken as part of the Audience Development/Arts Marketing Agency work for the Area, funded through the successful application to the SAC for £130,000. The establishment of a shared City/Shire Cultural Planning Forum Both local authorities are progressing through the appropriate committee processes to obtain the agreement of both Councils to establish a joint City/Shire Cultural Planning forum. The remit of the forum will be · To have an overview of the work of both local Authorities and partner organisations working in the Cultural sector · To agree a shared set of strategic and operational priorities for action · To maximise the sharing of existing resources · To lobby for new resources from funders to support the action plan · To work with officers to ensure the management and delivery of the action plan effectively and to best value · To commission a comprehensive evidence base for the impact of the arts, culture and heritage in the North East, and it's impact on the Economy, regeneration, Tourism, health, employment and the quality of life in the North East of Scotland. Discussion is underway regarding the membership of the Forum and the role of Elected Members |