Local authorities

A US company has withdrawn its proposal to build a Las Vegas-style immersive “Sphere” venue in Stratford, calling the planning process “a political football between rival parties”.

In a letter to the Planning Inspectorate withdrawing its application, Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSG) said it was "extremely disappointing" that Londoners would "not benefit from the Sphere's groundbreaking technology and the thousands of well-paying jobs it would have created.”

"After spending millions of pounds acquiring our site in Stratford and collaboratively engaging in a five-year planning process with numerous governmental bodies, including the local planning authority who approved our plans following careful review, we cannot continue to participate in a process that is merely a political football between rival parties."

MSG had hoped to build the LED-clad venue to host concerts, shows and sporting events on a vacant 4.7 acre site last used as a coach park during the 2012 Olympics.

In December, Housing Secretary Michael Gove instigated a review of London Mayor Sadiq Khan's rejection of planning permission for the 21,000-capacity venue.

Khan told BBC London that he “welcomed music venues in London” but rejected the proposal based on “consequences to [local] residents if this globe was to be built, the impacts on them in relation to light, the impact in relation to their amenities and on planning grounds”.

Around 4,000 people have signed a petition calling for Middlesbrough Council to keep the town's Captain Cook Birthplace Museum open.

The BBC reports that the local authority has proposed shutting the museum or handing responsibility over to another operator as part of efforts to save millions of pounds and avoid bankruptcy.

Martin Peagram, Chair of the Captain Cook Birthplace Trust, which launched the petition, said: "In 2028, it's the 300th anniversary of the birth of possibly the most famous person to come from this area. He's internationally renowned.

"We all know councils are under pressure with budgets [but] the Captain Cook Birthplace Trust regard this [proposal] as a tragedy.

"Thousands of schoolchildren have been through there over the years, learning about Captain Cook and about countries around the world.

"We know the issues the council face are real, but the museum is critical for people's perceptions of Middlesbrough and the commercial, cultural and educational opportunities it brings."

A public consultation on the budget proposals runs until 18 January.

County Durham has received a £1.25m Place Partnership award from Arts Council England, funded by the National Lottery, for a three-year programme of events, skills development and community-led activities.

The grant supplements the £2m Durham County Council has pledged toward the project and follows the region’s bid for the UK City of Culture 2025. After making it to the final four, the county lost out to Bradford.

Running from 2024 to 2026, with a 'spotlight' year in 2025, the programme includes establishing a county-wide network of community-based cultural hubs where residents can develop their creative projects and share ideas.

The award will also support a long-term international programme with South Africa's Isango Ensemble, with the aim of developing local talent and new productions that build on the region's heritage of mining and community activism.

The programme has been developed in partnership with Beamish Museum, The Bowes Museum, Durham University, No More Nowt, The Forge, Northern Heartlands, Redhills and TIN Arts.

Amanda Hopgood, Leader of Durham County Council, said: "The £1.25m awarded is a huge vote of confidence by Arts Council England as we put culture at the heart of our regeneration plans for the county and the wider region.

"2022 marked a historic milestone for the county, with tourism contributing over £1bn to our economy for the first time, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

"We are committed to both culture-led regeneration and activities that directly connect culture to economic and community growth.”

Jane Tarr, Arts Council England's Director for the North, added: "The Place Partnership Fund is designed to help places make a step-change in the cultural and creative lives of the community, and I'm delighted that culture is at the centre of Durham's regeneration plans."

A cultural programme covering Bath, Bristol, North and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire is set to go ahead after securing investment.

Bath Spa University partnered with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WECA) to secure funding through Arts Council England’s (ACE) National Lottery Place Partnerships Fund for Culture West, a two-year, region-wide programme aiming to enable every child and young person access to cultural experiences.

It plans to commission two new festivals, support and provide work for 425 creative freelancers and engage over 109,000 people in arts and cultural experiences with live audiences of more than 270,000.

Other initiatives include a new residency scheme for low-income artists and makers at Bath Spa University’s creative practice studio, while a new arts space will open in Radstock early next year.

Bath Spa University will also support the delivery of a new regional Creative Agency, creating employment guidance and networks for those entering the creative industries.

WECA has invested £1.5m in the programme, ACE has provided a £1m grant and local partners have given a combined £640,000.

Professor Sue Rigby, Bath Spa University Vice-Chancellor said the shared ambition is “to create a step change for the region by increasing access to arts and culture in every place for all communities and creatives.”

“Through this, we aim to improve lives, support local economies, help regenerate neighbourhoods and bring people back into work in the creative industries, post-pandemic.”

Worcester Council has extended the lease of a historic museum in the city to 999 years to help secure its long-term future.

Officials hope that the “unusual” extension will allow staff at the Tudor House Museum to make long-term plans.

A report for the authority’s policy and resources committee warns that the extension can not be used to set a precedent for other council leases.

Paul Griffith, chairman of Worcester Municipal Charities, which will hold the new lease, said the extension would give the two charities that run the museum, Worcester Heritage and Amenity Trust, the confidence to continue investing time and money.

"We already have plans to build a new visitors and education centre behind the museum and need to start raising the funds to pay for it," he added.

Wrexham Council will discuss establishing a charitable company to support a 2029 City of Culture bid following feedback on its 2025 bid.

The city lost out to Bradford for the 2025 title which had established a trust to lead the bid process throughout.

A report by Wrexham Council said the move would mean a “robust governance structure” would be in place for delivery which could support continued cultural and creative work in Wrexham after 2029.

The report added that, once legally established, the charitable trust would have a  “close working relationship” with the local authority. It would also lead a public engagement exercise to update the community on the progress of the trust and the bid.