Wrthi'n llwytho
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RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the Strategic Culture and Arts Steering Group meeting held on 16th January 2025 as an accurate record.
RESOLVED: 1. To note the proposed list of business detailed at Section 6 of the report; and 2. To determine whether there are any other items of business to be included.
RESOLVED: 1. To consider the contents of the report and comment on the information provided; and 2. To consider if any further information is required.
RESOLVED: 1. To note the responses received to the Library Service’s Adult Customer Satisfaction Survey 2025.
In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, there were no declarations made pertaining to the agenda.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the Strategic Culture and Arts Steering Group meeting held on 16th January 2025 as an accurate record.
It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the Strategic Culture and Arts Steering Group meeting held on 16th January 2025 as an accurate record.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: 1. To note the proposed list of business detailed at Section 6 of the report; and 2. To determine whether there are any other items of business to be included.
The Senior Executive and Regulatory Business Officer provided the Strategic Culture and Arts Steering Group with the proposed programme of work for the 2025-2026 Municipal Year. Members were informed of the following areas, which had been identified for consideration over the 2025/26 Municipal Year: • Artist Development Opportunities; • Libraries Services Customer Survey Responses; • Draft Libraries Strategy; • Treorchy Cultural Hub Developments; • Heritage Strategy; and • Y Muni Updates. It was explained that the above-mentioned items of business would be presented to the Steering Group when deemed most appropriate, following discussions with the Chair and Vice Chair, rather than topics aligned to a specific Steering Group meeting date. The Strategic Culture and Arts Steering Group RESOLVED: 1. To note the proposed list of business detailed at Section 6 of the report; and 2. To determine whether there are any other items of business to be included.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: 1. To consider the contents of the report and comment on the information provided; and 2. To consider if any further information is required.
The Arts Community and Engagement Manager updated Members of the Strategic Culture and Arts Steering Group on Artist Development activity delivered by the Arts Service. The officer provided the Steering Group with detail on the variety of opportunities offered by the Arts Service that support artists development across Rhondda Cynon Taf, ranging from collective connecting and knowledge sharing to bespoke and tailored advice and guidance: - Artists Network; - Artist in Service; - Artists Summer Intensive; - Winter Welcome Centre and T? Agored / Open House; - Park and Daring Festival; - Scratch Night; - Pitch Pot; - External Partnerships; and - Commission Support. The Chair thanked the officer for the detailed update, which supported ACW’s six Strategic Priorities: Creativity, Equality and Engagement, Climate Justice, Develop Talent, Transform and Welsh Language. One Member emphasised the importance of opportunities for artists to network, connect and communicate across the County Borough and praised the development of the RCT Local Artists Network. The Member sought assurance that the local network was well advertised and known by all local groups and artists. The Member used Citrus Arts and Parc Arts as examples of groups located within the Pontypridd area and spoke highly of the festival launched by Parc Arts to celebrate the life and legacy of Gwyl Morfydd Owen. The officer confirmed that the local organisations mentioned by the Member formed part of the network and that they were in regular communication. The officer echoed the Member’s comments in relation to the Parc Arts festival, which celebrated the Welsh composer, pianist and singer. The officer spoke proudly of the Council’s investment and involvement in the festival and praised its success, which included a strong Welsh language offer and meaningful engagement with the community. The Member spoke positively about the relationship with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTMUHB) and welcomed the submission of a joint application by CTMUHB and the Arts Service to the ACW Arts, Health & Wellbeing fund to expand provision to 3 healthcare settings in RCT and 1 in Bridgend. Furthermore, the Member questioned if there were any opportunities with schools to develop a calendar of events to take place during the summer holidays. The officer informed the Steering Group about a planned two-week programme at the Parc and Dare Theatre, named the Young Company, which would provide young people, aged between 16-25, with the opportunity to learn various theatre making skills. It was hoped that the pilot programme would inspire young people to follow a career path within theatres and the creative industries; and that, if successful, the programme would be extended. The officer assured the Member that the service offered a broad range of activities throughout the whole year, which included opportunities within the Artist Development Programme and within the Families First programme, which included a year-round programme of activity. The Member took the opportunity to thank the officer for his responses to her questions and praised the Local Authority for its dynamic work. Arts Council of Wales praised the Council’s way of working in comparison to other Welsh local authorities and recognised that there was a stronger impact on the creative community of RCT due to the way the strategic way in which all provisions and offers are tied together. Arts Council of Wales spoke highly of the good practice and impression of the various programmes within RCT, which were all part of a strategic offer and supportive of one another. The Chair thanked Arts Council of Wales for the fantastic and powerful observations and commented that the sector was going from strength to strength. The Cabinet Member for Education, Inclusion and Welsh Language was pleased to note the comments made by Arts Council of Wales, which recognised the efforts of staff and the variety of activities within the Council’s arts and culture sector. The Cabinet Member spoke proudly of the scale of development opportunities across the County Borough and the Council’s efforts to invest into and safeguard the non-statutory service, despite the budget pressures it had faced over the past years. The Cabinet Member also praised officers for influencing and encouraging smaller organisations and the voluntary sector to bring their activities to the forefront. The Chair thanked the officer and Members for their contributions and the Strategic Culture and Arts Steering Group RESOLVED: 1. To consider the contents of the report and comment on the information provided; and 2. To consider if any further information is required.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: 1. To note the responses received to the Library Service’s Adult Customer Satisfaction Survey 2025.
The Area Librarian provided the Strategic Culture and Arts Steering Group with the results of the Library Service’s Adult Customer Satisfaction Survey 2025, which had been produced as a requirement of the Welsh Government’s Welsh Public Library Standards (WPLS) within the Sixth Quality Framework: ‘Connected and Ambitious Libraries’ . A total of 1,012 completed survey forms were submitted, which compared to 606 returns for the previous survey in 2022, representing an increase in participation of 67%. Members were referred to section 5.2 of the report, which detailed the headline results of the survey relating to the Quality Indicators of the WPLS. It was noted that 96% of respondents agreed that the library has had a positive impact on their life and wellbeing; and that 100% of those surveyed stated that the library is essential to the community, aligning with the Council’s recognition of 7 of the 13 libraries as Community Resilience Hubs. Appendix 1 to the report detailed the full survey results for the Steering Group’s perusal. The Chair thanked the officer for the detailed report. The Chair compared today’s library service to that of a decade ago and emphasised that the benefits to communities were now diverse and far surpass simply a book offering. The Chair referred to the survey responses, which identified 76% of residents having learned a new skill at the library; and many respondents using it as a hub or reason to leave the house. The Cabinet Member for Education, Inclusion and Welsh Language echoed the Chair’s positive comments and felt that it was evident from the survey responses how valued the library service was to residents throughout the County Borough. The Cabinet Member stated that the information captured within the survey clearly demonstrated the positive impact the service has on the health and wellbeing of communities and took the opportunity to thank the staff on the frontline for their tremendous work. One Member spoke of Pontypridd library, which she was fortunate enough to live nearby. It was emphasised that the library was the beating heart of the community and valued by residents. The Member queried the status of the school outreach service and sought further information on how the team reach residents who are not located geographically close to a library/ community hub. The officer advised the Steering Group that the school library service had run well for several years and continued to do so. In terms of the residents located further from libraries, the officer spoke of the ‘at home’ service, which allowed any individual to sign up and receive home visits by librarians. The officer was pleased to inform Members that both services were going from strength to strength. The Chair concluded by congratulating the service for their excellent work and the Strategic Culture and Arts Steering Group RESOLVED: 1. To note the responses received to the Library Service’s Adult Customer Satisfaction Survey 2025.
Rhaid i gynghorwyr ddweud pan fydd ganddyn nhw gysylltiad personol â rhywbeth sy'n cael ei drafod, fel swydd, eiddo neu aelod o'r teulu. Mae buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu yn ddigon cryf i'r cynghorydd adael yr ystafell fel arfer a pheidio â chymryd rhan.
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