Approval for publication of a new district wide strategy for the enhancement, sustainability, promotion and protection of the heritage of Kirklees in all its forms.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Affects 2 or more wards;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 11/03/2024
Decision due: 9 Apr 2024 by Cabinet
Lead member: Portfolio Holder for Culture and Greener Kirklees
Lead director: Adele Poppleton
Department: Culture & Greener Kirklees
Contact: Deborah Marsland, Museums Operations Manager 01484 221000 Email: deborah.marsland@kirklees.gov.uk.
Consultation process
The draft Heritage Strategy public consultation process from November 2022 – January 2023 was widely promoted by the Council’s Communications team and included:
· Simple online survey including questions on the strategy
· Paper surveys available at museum sites, Kirklees events and via a phone request line
· Two public events in North Kirklees and South Kirklees
· One online members’ engagement session
· Existing stakeholders - community and heritage groups - signposted to the consultation
· Discussions with key heritage partner stakeholders to review their response to the Strategy
As a result:
· 135 comments were received from Kirklees residents, cultural partners, funders and other stakeholders such as Historic England and West Yorkshire Archives Service, as well as key internal Council services such as Conservation Planning and Libraries.
· These comments have been reviewed with the Council’s Research and Intelligence Team and the strategy amended as appropriate.
· The full consultation report will be added to the Council’s Involve database concurrently with the publication of this Cabinet Report.
Based on responses, the strategy and SHAP was generally felt to be a positive step in ensuring the successful protection of and engagement with heritage assets within Kirklees. Many agreed that heritage is a valuable asset to Kirklees and a particular focus on the collaborative place-based approach was seen to be the way forward.
Respondents highlighted a number of specific areas of heritage which they felt should be included or addressed and actions will be developed with communities.
Portfolio Briefings have taken place throughout the development of the Heritage Strategy with full support. A draft of the public engagement report was provided to Portfolio Holder Cllr Butt on 17 January 2024.
Consultees
One of the key aspects of the Heritage Strategy is the recognition that heritage is not solely about physical assets but also about the people of Kirklees, their identity and stories, and how they are told.
Engagement with people has been undertaken throughout the development of this strategy with the result that there is positive support for the strategy and the SHAP. This has been particularly demonstrated through the findings of the public consultation relating to the Heritage Strategy, see Section 16 Consultation (the resulting report will be published alongside the strategy).
Heritage/cultural partners such as Historic England, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council have all commented on the strategy as have other local partners e.g., Huddersfield Local History Society and the University of Huddersfield. The existence of the draft strategy has already resulted in a wider awareness of the need for strategic developments to be better connected. It is helping to kickstart wider partnerships and collaboration and has improved communication between organisations with a heritage focus. Several partners are already using the draft Heritage Strategy which was published at public consultation stage as a framework with which to plan and focus their programmes.
21 Councillors attended a members’ engagement session on the Heritage Strategy on 15 November 2022.
Members/Officers Involved: Deborah Marsland Adele Poppleton