Decision

(a)      acknowledge and welcome the findings of the Creative Industries Mapping Research and the opportunities identified therein to further grow creative industries as a key growth sector across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire;

(b)      note that the North East Culture Connects strategic development framework has been devised by the Creative Industries Working Group within the Regional Economic Partnership in response to the need for an investment-ready regional proposition;

(c)      note that the Creative Industries Working Group and Regional Economic Partnership are continuing to develop a wider Creative Industries Action Plan to jointly support that key sector;

(d)      approve North East Culture Connects as a strategic framework for further feasibility, prioritisation, business case development and external investment activity;

(e)      instruct the Chief Officer – City Development and Regeneration to work with regional partners to develop phased business cases and investment propositions, noting that no Council capital or revenue funding is approved through this report; and

(f)       instruct the Chief Officer – City Development and Regeneration to continue working with partners and the Regional Economic Partnership to develop the Creative Industries Action Plan.