The Leisure and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Commission is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, 16 September 2026. The meeting agenda includes a pre-decision scrutiny of the proposed refurbishment of the Albemarle Music Centre, an update on the Hull Music Plan, and performance reporting from the Culture, Place and City Centre department.

Refurbishment of Albemarle Music Centre

The commission is scheduled to undertake pre-decision scrutiny regarding the proposed investment in the Albemarle Music Centre, which serves as the home for the Hull Music Service. The report seeking approval for this investment highlights the building's current condition and its suitability for service delivery. The proposed works include improvements to security and access at the front entrance and reception, a new roof covering, rendering of the Albemarle cone, and new heating and ventilation systems. The report notes that the works will be funded from the Council's approved capital programme and planned building maintenance allocation for 2026/2027 and 2027/28. The refurbishment is intended to address health and safety concerns, replace the main Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) plant which has reached the end of its economic life, and improve the building's security. The estimated cost for the project is approximately £1.4 million, with works potentially commencing in early February 2027 and concluding by July 2027. The report also details the positive impacts of the centre on various council plans, including the Hull Council Plan 2024–2028, the Hull Culture & Heritage Strategy 2025–2030, and the Children and Young People Plan (CYPP) 2025–2030. It also mentions that the replacement of the M&E plant with energy-efficient systems will contribute to the Council's sustainability goals by reducing carbon emissions and operational energy use.

Music Plan - How Far Have We Come

An update on the Hull Music Plan is scheduled to be presented to the commission. The plan's vision is for Music in Hull will play a strategic and active role driving Hull's reputation as one of the world's most progressive cities in communityled culture and heritage. The development of the plan involved music networks from across the sector and a sector workshop with 100 representatives. Key themes identified in the plan include a focus on inclusion, the strength of local stories, championing music infrastructure, and the power of relationships. The expected outcomes include increased investment in music delivery, growth in media coverage of Hull's music initiatives, improved economic value of the music sector, increased national and international collaboration, and confidence that Hull is a place to develop a creative music business or career. The update is expected to cover progress made since the plan's inception, including efforts towards becoming a UNESCO Creative City of Music, the launch of the New City Youth Choir, and the hosting of events such as the International Music Cities Convention.

Performance Reporting - Culture, Place and City Centre

The commission is scheduled to receive an update on the performance reporting framework for the Culture, Place and City Centre (CPCC) department. This report will provide an overview of the progress made in relation to redeveloped Corporate Plan performance measures. The CPCC department has identified a basket of key measures to reflect the Council Plan, which are presented in the report. These include indicators such as the value of tourism, number of participants in culture, overnight bed nights, visitor numbers to cultural facilities, audience numbers for cultural activities, and library visits (both in-person and online). The report notes that some measures, like the value of tourism, are based on national statistics published with a delay. The next steps outlined include further developing measures to include more frequent tourism data and working with the Music Board to capture city-wide music participation and audience figures.

HCAL Performance Monitoring Client Report

An update on the Hull Culture and Leisure (HCAL) performance monitoring Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) is scheduled. HCAL delivers a range of cultural, leisure, heritage, learning, and community services on behalf of Hull City Council. The KPIs are designed to monitor HCAL's contribution to the Council's strategic ambitions, including A Healthier and Fairer Hull, Economic Growth that Works for All, Our Culture, Heritage and City, and Reaching Our Potential. The KPIs cover areas such as financial sustainability, participation and reach, customer and community impact, operational health, and workforce metrics. Further work is underway to refine these indicators, establish baseline positions, and agree on meaningful targets.

Leisure and Culture WP 2026-27

The commission is scheduled to review the work programme for the Leisure and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Commission for the 2026-27 period. This review will help to coordinate the commission's work for the year ahead. The work programme outlines proposed visits and formal agenda items for future meetings, covering a range of topics including sports stadia health and safety, the Hull Fair control room, HCAL repairs and maintenance, the Playing Pitch and Built Facilities Strategy, and updates on various cultural and leisure services. It also includes items related to the UNESCO City of Music bid and theatre and halls commissioning.