Decision details

Report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Learning seeking approval for Southampton Music Services to bid to lead the Music Hub across a wider geographical area, namely BCP and Portsmouth Southampton and IOW as per Department for Education prescribed geographical area.

(i)  To approve an application to be music hub lead organisation and

    Accountable Body for the new Department for Education prescribed

    geographical areas from September 2024 (BCP, Portsmouth, IOW

    and Southampton) and delegate authority to the Executive Director

    Wellbeing (Children & Learning), after consultation with the

    Executive Director Corporate Services and the Director of

    Governance, Legal and HR, to accept and take any action

    necessary to implement / deliver the service should the bid be

    successful.

Southampton Music Services has a strong and proven track record of local,

regional and national leadership and partnership meeting the needs of CYP

and their diverse communities through a commitment to ensuring ambitious

and high-quality musical activities that meet the needs of all children and

young people in the communities that we serve.

As the hub lead organisation (Accountable Body), Southampton Music

Services can continue to increase investment into the city through the hub

grant, as well as through additional funding leveraged against it.

As hub lead organisation, Southampton Music Services can continue to build

Southampton’s reputation as a city of culture, a child friendly city, a green city

and aligns with the Southampton Education Strategy.

The local plan for music education in Southampton and the Isle of Wight is

being co-created by the hub partnership, schools and young people. (See

DMR 5 for list of partners). The successful application of the new hub grant

would continue to support the wider music ecosystem including National

Portfolio Organisations, freelancers, community musicians and small

organisations by commissioning services and work, developing sustainable

funding streams (as per principle 4 in the National Plan for Music Education 2)

and workforce development and training.

Making no application to be a Hub Lead Organisation, resulting in

·  Risk of loss of investment from music education hub grant, impacting

·  schools children and young people and the wider community

·  Risk of loss of additional investment leveraged against the music

·  education hub grant impacting schools children and young people and

·  the wider community

·  Risk of loss of influence and impact on quality for opportunities and

·  outcomes for children and young people in Southampton

·  Risk of loss of current regional and national profile for the city

Contribution to another organisation’s bid to be Hub Lead Organisation,

resulting in

·  Risk of some loss of investment to SCC from music education hub

·  grant and therefore impact on opportunities available to children and

·  young people

·  Risk of some loss of additional investment leveraged against the music

·  education hub grant, impacting on amount and type of activity for

·  children and young people

·  Risk of loss of influence over opportunities outcomes for children and

·  young people in Southampton

·  No ability to sustain and build upon quality and current track record

·  Lack of ability to be responsive, dynamic, agile and strategic

·  Loss of current regional and national profile for Southampton

Formation of new company with other Local Authorities in the Geographical

Area, to facilitate shared leadership resulting in

·  No return on investment and outcomes for children and young people

  or for Department for Education due to added layer of management

  and company costs resulting in no efficiencies of scale

·  Potential for exit costs and strategy as well as personal liabilities need

  consideration should there be a need to dissolve the new company

·  Create tax implications

·  LA would need to tender to deliver services – no direct relationship

  possible

·  Potential loss of additional investment leveraged against the music

  education hub grant impacting schools, children and young people and

  communities in Southampton

·  Potential loss of influence over opportunities outcomes for children and

  young people in Southampton

·  No ability to sustain and build upon quality and current track record

·  Lack of ability to be responsive, dynamic, agile and strategic unless

  democratically agreed.

None