Captial of Culture legacy is real say Lib Dems (Garston and Halewood Liberal Democrats)

Garston and Halewood Liberal Democrats <info@garstonld.org.uk>

Captial of Culture legacy is real say Lib Dems

July 11, 2007 12:00 AM

A motion to next week's Liverpool City Council meeting (18th July) from a Lib Dem Councillor spells out the gains already brought to the City as a result of gaining Capital of Culture.

The motion, by Councillor Richard Kemp, who represents Church ward, reads:

Council notes with concern inaccurate and misleading statements that have been made in recent weeks about the legacy of the European Capital of Culture year 2008.

It notes that much has already been achieved through the amazing partnership between the public sector, private sector and the people of Liverpool.

Since the decision was made to apply for the honour of European Capital of Culture in 2008, the City has delivered:

The renovation of St George's Hall;

The renovation of the Central Museums and Galleries in William Brown Street and the Sudley Gallery;

A fundamental change in the way of City is viewed throughout the UK;

The cruise Liner Facility, which will see cruise liners on the Mersey for the first time in 40 years;

A trebling of hotel beds;

Massive investment into the local Economy;

The biggest retail development in Western Europe which will be completed on budget and on time;

The opening of the Met Quarter;

The new Liverpool Museum at the Pier Head;

The new canal at the Pier Head, the first new canal to be built in this country for decades;

The most advanced Arena in the World which apart from external circumstances is on budget and on time and which is already achieving booking up to 2015;

The renovation of Lime Street Station; and

A doubling of traffic at Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Council further notes the existence of a massive number of events arranged directly by the Capital of Culture Company and indirectly by communities and organisations throughout the City both in 2007 and 2008.

Council notes that:

· since 2003, 2 million people have been involved in Creative Communities as either participants or audience members;

· between 2003 and 2009 over £11 million will have been spent on Creative Communities; and

· 5,000 08 Ambassadors are signed up to help promote Liverpool and the 2008 year.

Council welcomes the support that has been given in moral but, regrettably, not financial terms by the former Labour Secretary of State at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the former Labour Minister of State for the same department.

Accordingly, Council now agrees to build on this undoubted success by: -

Inviting the new Secretary of State for Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the new Minister for the North West and their Liberal Democrat and Conservative counterparts to visit Liverpool and offer their support for the event.

Inviting members of all Parties at all levels to forget narrow political carping about detail and join in the promotion of this wonderful year for our City.

Continuing to involve Liverpool's communities across the City in the plans for year long celebrations as well as ensuring that ordinary people remain at the heart of the future cultural strategy and the legacy for our City post 2008. "

Information about City Council meetings, including agendas and minutes, can be found at www.liverpool.gov.uk