Purpose

To inform the Cabinet Member of the Derby & Derbyshire Music Partnership’s role in administering the Music Hub grant to encourage collaborations between key local and regional music organisations in order to deliver high quality music education provision in and out of Derbyshire and Derby City schools.

To seek authority for the Derby & Derbyshire Music Partnership to devolve funds of up to £30,000 per approved delivery partner organisation in order that each may fulfil its role in the local delivery of the National Plan for Music Education as mandated in the grant terms administered by the Arts Council England.
 

Decision

That the Cabinet Member:

a)            Notes the role of the Derby & Derbyshire Music Partnership (DDMP) as the Hub Lead Organisation for the Derbyshire Music Hub, including its responsibility for administering the Music Hub grant in accordance with the National Plan for Music Education and the grant conditions set by the Department for Education and Arts Council England;

b)            Approves the continued use of a partnership-led model for the delivery of Music Hub activity, whereby grant funding is distributed proportionately to established, quality-assured delivery partner organisations in line with the Local Plan for Music Education, rather than through repeated competitive procurement; and

c)  Authorises the Derby & Derbyshire Music Partnership to devolve Music Hub grant funding of up to £30,000 per annum per approved delivery partner organisation, subject to appropriate grant agreements, monitoring, and quality-assurance arrangements, to enable delivery of agreed activity aligned with national and local priorities.

Reasons for the decision

To ensure that the Cabinet Member is fully informed of the statutory and grant-funded context in which the Derby & Derbyshire Music Partnership operates as the Hub Lead Organisation, including its responsibilities for strategic leadership, financial oversight, compliance with Arts Council England grant conditions, and delivery of the National Plan for Music Education.

To enable the Music Hub to operate in line with national guidance and grant conditions, which emphasise place-based working, partnership delivery, proportionality, and value for money. A partnership-led model supports sustainable delivery at scale, reduces procurement and administrative burden, and allows the Hub Lead Organisation to focus on strategic oversight, quality assurance, and impact rather than operational micro-management.

To provide the necessary authority for the Derby & Derbyshire Music Partnership to devolve grant funding of up to £30,000 per approved delivery partner organisation, ensuring timely and effective delivery of agreed activity aligned to the Local Plan for Music Education, whilst maintaining appropriate governance, monitoring, and assurance arrangements consistent with Council financial regulations and Arts Council England grant requirements.  

Alternative options considered

Repeated tendering for all aspects of delivery is neither efficient nor consistent with the expectations of a Music Hub partnership model. Instead, national guidance anticipates that Music Hubs will work with established, quality-assured partner organisations with the expertise, capacity, and local reach to deliver agreed activity aligned to the LPME. This partnership-led approach enables coherence, continuity, and value for money; supports workforce development and innovation; and allows the HLO to focus on strategic oversight, quality assurance, and impact rather than operational micro-management. It represents an effective and responsible use of public funding in line with Arts Council England and DfE principles.