Responding to the Government’s announcement in the Spending
Review of funding for the UK’s culture, tourism and sport
sectors, Chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board,
Councillor , said:
“We are pleased that Government has recognised the vital role
cultural, tourism and sporting infrastructure can play in our
national recovery from COVID-19, and responded to LGA calls for
previous commitments for capital investment in museums and
libraries to be honoured.
“This funding will provide immediate support to boost these
sectors as they work to regain solid footing after the last 18
months and the inclusion of funding for Heritage Action Zones is
extremely positive news for our high streets and heritage areas
which have been transformed by this funding.
“However, to deliver maximum impact on these funding streams, it
is important that government and its arms-length bodies commit to
strategic working with councils to ensure we are making optimal
use of our combined funding at a place-based level and have a
shared vision for levelling up infrastructure across the country.
“There also remains a particular challenge around ageing leisure
facilities where the funding demands required to meet our climate
objectives and the needs of communities will exceed the funding
made available through these investments. Over the longer term,
it will be important to ensure that councils can continue to
access decarbonisation funding to improve their leisure estates.”
Ends.
Editor’s note:
The funding announced today includes:
- £850 million to restore and upgrade some of the country’s
most popular institutions such as London’s V&A museum, Tate
Liverpool and the Imperial War Museum,
- £52 million in new funding for museums and cultural and
sporting bodies to support recovery from COVID-19 with an
additional £49 million in 2024-25
- £760 million to fund football pitches, tennis courts and
youth facilities
- A package of tax and business rates reliefs for the cultural
and creative industries, hospitality, and leisure sectors.
