To consider any communications to be submitted by the Mayor or the Chief Executive.
Minutes:
(a) Poet Laureate
The Executive Director Core Services was delighted to announce that Eloise Unerman from Goldthorpe had taken over from Ian McMillan as the new Poet Laureate for Barnsley. At just 19 years old it was believed that Eloise was the youngest Poet Laureate for a town or Borough anywhere in the country.
Eloise had excellent credentials for the role, having already won the Northern Young Writers Award in 2017. She had also served as Ian’s Apprentice in preparation of taking on her new responsibilities.
Eloise Unerman was present in the Chamber this morning.
The Mayor and Members of the Council expressed their congratulations to all concerned in the usual manner.
(b) Wentworth Castle Gardens, - Duke of York Community Initiative Award
The Executive Director Core Services reported that as a result of their work in Wentworth Castle Gardens, Volunteers from the Gardens had been presented with the prestigious Duke of York Community Initiative Award.
Wentworth Castle Gardens had been through a changing and challenging time in recent years and had been closed to the public for two years. The dedication of the volunteers throughout this period helped to maintain the gardens whilst a sustainable solution could be found. The appointment of the National Trust as the new operator marked a new era for the well-loved attraction.
Barbara Anstie and Trevor Jones were in the chamber this morning to represent the Wentworth Castle Gardens Volunteers. Thanks were expressed to them and to all the volunteers for all their hard work in maintaining the Gardens and it was fitting that they had been recognised in this way.
The Mayor and Members of the Council expressed their thanks to all involved in the usual manner.
(c) Experience Barnsley – Full Museum Status
The Executive Director Core Services had great pleasure in announcing that, following a recent assessment by Arts Council England, Experience Barnsley had been awardee full Museum Accreditation. This was the first assessment since the Museum opened in 2013 and it was pleasing to note that this accreditation had been awarded for the full five years.
The assessment Team had said ‘The Accreditation return was strong across the board and a pleasure to assess. This accreditation was a testament to the hard work of the Team in putting the application together and providing an excellent Museum Service for the Borough.
Congratulations were extended to all the Team and especially to Natalie Murray, Collections and Exhibitions Manager who had let the process and also to Adam Waite, Visitor Services Manager who ensured the smooth running of operations on a daily basis.
The Mayor and Members of the Council expressed their thanks in the usual manner.
Councillor Frost, Cabinet Support Member for Place (Regeneration and Culture) was delighted to welcome Eloise Unerman as the Poet Laureate for Barnsley. This appointment showed once again the innovative approach that Barnsley had towards arts and culture and that it was supporting and championing the work or young people At just 19 Eloise was a ‘home grown’ Barnsley Talent. She already had a long list of achievements, won a great many awards and had already had some of her poems published. He was really pleased that the Council was able to support Eloise’s career with this appointment and he looked forward to hearing her poems.
In relation to the Duke of York Community initiative Award, Councillor Frost was pleased that Wentworth Castle Garden Volunteers had been recognised by this Award as they really did deserve the highest praise for their hard work and dedication they had shown. They were clearly devoted to the Gardens and their work in maintaining the Gardens in a period of uncertainty and closure showed real commitment which had made all the difference. Thanks were given the Barbara Anstie and Trevor Jones and to all the volunteers involved.
In response to the Museum Accreditation Award for Experience Barnsley Councillor Frost asked to place on record his own personal thanks to Natalie Murray and Adam Waite and their respective teams in achieving this excellent result for Experience Barnsley. Even though it had been open for five years the Museum was performing well above what was anticipated within the Business Plan with around 80,000 visitors per year and it was much loved by local people. The Museums Service made sure that through their changing exhibition, learning and outreach programmes, the Museum was kept refreshed and relevant and it was an excellent achievement to have achieved full Museum Accreditation status in its first five years.
(d) The Royal Chartered Institute of Surveyors (RICS) – The Glassworks – 2019 Regeneration Project Winner
The Executive Director Core Services reported that the first phase of an ambitious £180m project to revitalise Barnsley’s Town Centre comprised a new reimagined Market Hall with a flagship food court. TICS Judges had been impressed with the re-use of the existing structure to provide a vibrant and attractive Market Halls and commented the project team – Barnsley Council, Henry Boot Construction, IBI Group and NPS – for helping to continue Barnsley’s market tradition by encouraging the next generation back to town centre shopping.
As a winning scheme for Yorkshire and the Humber, the project was now a finalist in the National RICS Awards 2019 Grand Final. The winners would be announced at the event to be held on the 4th October, 2019.
The Executive Director Core Services also reported that the Council had also been successful in winning a further three awards in collaboration with Henry Boot Construction for The Glassworks, The Library@TheLightbox and Barnsley Markets and he expressed his congratulations to all the winners.
The Mayor and Members of the Council expressed their congratulations on these achievements in the usual manner.