Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Cabinet has agreed to a framework which sets out a joint vision to ensure that the borough’s cultural offer is recognised nationally and internationally.

Building on a 2017 previous cultural vision, the new framework – named Time Out – was agreed at a meeting of cabinet on Tuesday, July 5).

However, opposition leader and Labour councillor Andrew McCormick questioned the prospect of the framework at a time when the council has cut fundings to The Anvil and the Haymarket theatres.

The new framework sets out a statement of intent for arts and culture to be a driving force to help the borough become a place where communities, artists, cultural organisations and businesses can come together to collaborate, celebrate, participate, create, and innovate.

Developed by the borough council following extensive consultation with cultural organisations in the borough, the new framework also sets out three core themes which will act as guiding principles to place culture at the heart of the borough to ensure it continues to be a great place to live, work and visit.

This includes a focus on experimentation by encouraging artists and groups to work together collaboratively to embrace technological change and digital creativity and explore how space across the borough could be used differently to bring arts and culture to new audiences.

Borough council leader Cllr Simon Bound said: “Basingstoke and Deane’s cultural offer is an important part of what makes the borough a great place to live, work and visit and there is a lot that we can be proud of.

“As well as having world-class performance venues attracting international attention, the borough is home to heritage sites of significant importance, a brilliant programme of events, hugely talented artists and thriving cultural organisations.

“It is vital that artists and organisations from a range of sectors come together to enhance the local cultural offer to meet local needs and ensure residents can benefit from the joy that arts and culture can bring to our everyday lives. This framework sets a clear and solid foundation for how we support that.”

Speaking before the cabinet, Cllr McCormick said: “Culture is a key driver of night-time and weekend economy in Basingstoke indeed. So I would like to ask how we hoped to achieve this when we've cut support for the Haymarket and anvil, and what indications do we have, that our venues will get the right support, and that we will increase visitor numbers to Basingstoke and Deane, at the time when we desperately need to breathe new life into our local economy.”

Reacting to his comments, Cllr Bound said the framework has the full support of local artist.

He added: “I am pleasantly surprised that a document from a local authority has had such a warm welcome from the arts and culture, ecosystem. And when I look at some of our colleagues in other local authorities, it makes me feel even happier that it has had such a welcome.”