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9 March 2006
New Guide Shows How Local Government Can Work With Culture Department To Deliver Leisure Services
Local Government spends £3.2 billion annually on cultural services, including sport, and this has the potential to make a real – and increasing – impact on the delivery of local and shared priorities, according to a new guide.
Working Together - Local authorities and DCMS has been published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in collaboration with the Local Government Association, and explains how the two can collaborate for maximum impact. It was distributed to 21,000 councillors with the 4th March issue of the LGA weekly journal First.
DCMS works with local government to ensure that culture and sport add value to the things that really matter to our communities: increasing educational standards; improving our quality of life and health; and developing strong, safe and pleasant communities, with a thriving economy to live in.
As the preparations for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics get under way and the plans for a national cultural festival starting in Liverpool 2008 take shape, there has never been a better opportunity to engage people in culture and sport. This guide helps councillors to focus on what cultural activity can do for their communities.
Cllr Chris White, Chair, LGA Regeneration Board, said:
"This accessible guide provides the reader with useful pointers to further information and I'm sure it will be of use to all local councillors. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with DCMS to develop such a practical publication and I hope fellow councillors will find the guide beneficial and useful when considering the benefits of culture and sport to their local communities."
Notes to Editors
1. The guide is intended to:
- explain, with signposts to further information, what DCMS does and how it works with and supports local authorities in delivering their cultural and other priorities
- suggest some ways in which local authorities and elected councillors can increase the contribution of culture to delivering both local and Shared Priorities
2. Local authorities spend £3.2 billion annually on cultural services, including sport. Much of that expenditure is in partnership with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and its various sponsored bodies.
Press Enquiries: 020 7211 6272\6276
Out of hours telephone pager no: 07699 751153
Public Enquiries: 020 7211 6200
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