Issue - meetings

AGREED that Cabinet:

a)     consider the report on the public consultation on the Kiddey sculptures at Appendix B to the report;

b)     consider the comments from the Policy, Performance and Improvement Committee at Appendix A to the report;

c)     confirm the earlier, in principle decision taken on 4 June 2024, to site the Kiddey sculptures at Castle House, Newark;

d)     add a sum of £87,430 to the capital programme funded by the Change Management Reserve, to fund the installation at Castle House; and

e)     give delegated authority to the Director - Communities and Environment, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to enter into an agreement with Newark Town Council for a loan of the Kiddey Sculptures.

The Portfolio Holder – Heritage, Culture & the Arts presented a report which set out the outcomes from the public consultation following on from a previous in principle decision by the Cabinet to site the Kiddey sculptures at Castle House. The Cabinet considered the responses from the public consultation and the comments from the Policy & Performance Improvement Committee, following their consideration of this item at their meeting held on 25 November 2024.

The cost to deliver the scheme was forecasted as £81,240 when the first report was presented to the Cabinet on 4 June 2024. That was based on latest cost from April, so given inflation a new cost estimate of £87,430 was noted, however this was subject to the works being tendered and completed.

It was reported that subject to any Cabinet decision, Newark Town Council and the District Council would need to enter into a formal agreement for leasing the Kiddey structures. The principles for such an agreement were set out in the report.

AGREED      (with 6 votes for, 1 against and 1 abstention) that Cabinet:

a)            consider the report on the public consultation on the Kiddey sculptures at Appendix B to the report;

b)            consider the comments from the Policy & Performance Improvement Committee at Appendix A to the report;

c)             confirm the earlier, in principle decision taken on 4 June 2024, to site the Kiddey sculptures at Castle House, Newark;

d)            add a sum of £87,430 to the capital programme funded by the Change Management Reserve, to fund the installation at Castle House; and

e)            give delegated authority to the Director - Communities & Environment, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to enter into an agreement with Newark Town Council for a loan of the Kiddey Sculptures.

Reasons for Decision:

The recommendations align with the Community Plan objectives in relation to heritage and culture, particularly the specific actions around increasing the quantity and quality of public art in the district.

Options Considered:

The Kiddey Stones are part of Newark’s heritage. For around 40 years they have been under tarpaulin in the town’s cemetery. Without funding and a suitable location to site the stones, it is highly likely they will continue to remain away from public view. However, it is an option not to invest in the project.

A recorded vote was taken as follows: