HERITAGE, CULTURE AND LEISURE COMMITTEE

5 JULY 2016

Is the final decision on the recommendations in this report to be made at this meeting?

Yes

 

Plaques and People protocol

 

Final Decision-Maker

Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee

Lead Head of Service

Paul Riley, Head of Finance and Resources

Lead Officer and Report Author

Councillor David Pickett

Classification

Public

Wards affected

 

 

 

This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee:

1.   That the draft Plaques and People Protocol attached at appendix A to the report be considered; and

2.   That Members decide whether to take the matter further and request an officer’s report on the item.

 

 

This report relates to the following corporate priorities:

·         Keeping Maidstone Borough an attractive place for all – through promoting Maidstone’s heritage

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee

1 March 2016

Council

NA



Plaques and People protocol

 

 

1.        PURPOSE OF REPORT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

1.1     This report presents the Plaques and People protocol written with input from Councillors English, Paterson and Newton, attached at appendix A.

 

2.        INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

 

2.1     Maidstone Borough Council does not currently operate a plaque scheme.

 

2.2     There are several plaque schemes in place nationwide. A range of bodies can administer plaque schemes including local authorities, civic societies, residents associations, and societies of special groups.

 

2.3      There are plaques visible in the borough of Maidstone which have been erected by private persons and groups. An owner of a building can place a plaque on a building they own, subject to planning requirements.  A notable example of a plaque already visible in the town centre is that dedicated to Edith Cavell, as erected on the wall of the Congregational Church in Week Street.

 

2.4     The attached Plaques and People protocol has been drafted with the aim of standardising the process for the erection of plaques across the borough.

 

 

 

3.        AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

3.1     The Committee could decide to consider the Plaques and People protocol attached at appendix A and request an officer’s report on the item to come to the next meeting of the Committee.

 

3.2     The Committee could decide not to consider the protocol attached at appendix A, but this is not recommended as the matter has come to Committee at Members’ request.

 

3.3 The Committee could consider the Plaques and Peoples protocol and decide not to take the matter further.

 

 

 

4         NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

4.2     The Committee could request Officers to conduct research into the budget, resource and implementation implications of the proposed protocol and report back to the next meeting of the Committee

 

 

5         CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Priorities

 

 

Risk Management

 

 

Financial

Funding implications will need to be addressed.

Salman Ahmed, Finance

Staffing

 

 

Legal

 

 

Equality Impact Needs Assessment

No detrimental impact on the the protected characteristics of individuals identified at this time.

Orla Sweeney, Insight and Information Officer

Environmental/Sustainable Development

 

 

Community Safety

 

 

Human Rights Act

 

 

Procurement

 

 

Asset Management

 

 

 

6         REPORT APPENDICES

 

The following documents are to be published with this report and form part of the report:

·               Appendix A: Plaques and People protocol

 

 

7         BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

None.