Purpose

To seek approval for the distribution of the Arts Council England National Music Hub Grant

Decision

In coming to this decision I have given due and full regard to the requirements of the public sector equality duty contained in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 (“the Act”) by reference to the law itself and also the relevant Equality Impact Assessment, which was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

Having fully considered all the available information, I have decided to reject the alternative options and take the recommended decision to:

1. Ratify a decision taken by the Director for Education’s Executive Decision to distribute Department for Education (DoE) / Arts Council England Music (ACE) Hub Investment Programme grant funding of £1,782,155 between Gloucestershire County Council (GCC), Swindon Music Service and The Music Works (the “Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire (GSW) Music Hub Members”) in GCC’s capacity as the GSW Music Hub Lead Organisation as follows:

a)    £613,423.67 to GCC;

b)    £911,743.00 to Swindon Music Service;

c)    £256,988.33 to The Music Works,

for the purpose of them carrying out the strategic commissioning activities in respect of music education services to young people described in the published Executive Decision Report dated 6th January 2026 (see Background Documents below) across Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire during the academic year 2025-26.

1. Delegate authority to the Director for Education in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills to distribute Department for Education / Arts Council England Music Hubs Investment Programme grant funding (once received by GCC) between the GSW Music Hub Members in each of the next 3 academic years (i.e., 26/27, 27/28, 28/29) in proportions advised for each area by the DFE.

For the reasons set out in the report.