communities & local government

Local government is crucial in achieving our aims.

Local government spends twice as much as we and the National Lottery do combined in providing cultural and sporting opportunities for communities, and so directly supports our key aims.

Local authorities also have a statutory responsibility to deliver a comprehensive and efficient library service, and an important regulatory roles in the areas of licensing and gambling.

We work closely with local authorities to help them maintain and improve delivery of cultural services, and to spread best practice.

The regional tier of government are equally invaluable partners:

Government Offices for the English Regions
Work closely with us, providing intelligence about cultural opportunities and risks at regional level, and delivering the local government improvement agenda, particularly through the preparation of regional commentaries.
Regional Cultural Consortiums
Important partners in ensuring that cultural opportunities are reflected in these key regional frameworks.
Regional Development Agencies
Prepare Regional Economic Strategies which reflect the economic importance of culture, and particularly the role tourism and the creative industries, in driving regional growth.
Regional Assemblies
Prepare Regional Spatial Strategies which provide the context for cultural planning – especially in areas of housing and economic growth and development.

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National Indicators for Local Authorities and Local Authority Partnerships

As part of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 announcement, the Department for Communities and Local Government recently published the single set of 198 national indicators that will underpin the new performance framework.

The following sport and culture indicators have been included in the set:

Adult participation in sport
Use of public libraries
Visiting to museums and galleries
Engagement in the arts

A list of indicators with the greatest potential to support our strategic objectives, as well as a list of qualifying arts activities, is available under "related information" to the right of the screen.