Agenda item

(A report by Phil Perry, Assistant Director Leisure & Culture)

Portfolio Holder: Councillor Sarah Sharpe

Councillor Sarah Sharpe presented the report which sought adoption of the Street Art Policy in order to establish street art in Boston to provide safe and welcoming public spaces for the community.

Councillor Sharpe reported that the street art policy had been developed and piloted by South Holland District Council in 2023 with good results. It was now the intention to work towards adopting the policy across the South and East Lincolnshire Council sub region. The development of the policy was also listed as an action within the Boston Town Centre Strategy for the purpose of this policy.

Members noted that street art was defined as any work of art on building facades or infrastructure, with permission that complemented the public space in which it was situated. Such work would not detract, defame or depreciate the area. It could be a painting, land, art, sculpture, etc. Whereas graffiti was defined as defacement of building facades or infrastructure without permission by use of paint or any form of marker. This was always a form of criminal damage.

Councillor Sharpe advised that the policy set out how graffiti was currently dealt with and how it would continue to be dealt with as an act of anti social behaviour in terms of enforcement and removal. It provided a procedure for giving permission for legal street art, ensuring any street art on Council property would meet the required standard in terms of subject and content, with a clear process if those standards were not adhered to. It was the intention to work with the community to ensure any proposed street art was suitable and representative of the place, creating a sense of ownership, and enhancement to the space.

The policy would be tested with a pilot project working with the community and artists, potentially through the NPO programme. Central Park had been identified as a potential location for this as part of the work to gain green flag status. The policy also enabled the potential for using street art to engage with young people and provide the opportunity to work with artists to develop their creativity in dedicated spaces rather than going down the route of illegal graffiti.

The report included examples of where the policy had worked well to successfully deliver a street art project and also where it was used to remove street art which did not meet the guidelines.

Councillor Emma Cresswell was enthusiastic about the report and looked forward to seeing the work within the community. Councillor Dale Broughton supported the proposal. He suggested that an emphasis could also be made on sculptures within the Borough. Councillor Sandeep Ghosh also supported the proposals and was encouraged by the potential improvements around the area.

The recommendations were moved by Councillor Sarah Sharpe and seconded by Councillor Emma Cresswell.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the Policy be approved;

2.     That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director Leisure & Culture, in consultation with the Culture Portfolio Holder, to make any minor amendments to the Policy;

3.     That the outcome of the Piloting phase which took place in South Holland be noted; and

4.     That the Policy be reviewed after one year (April 2025).