Stockton Heritage Strategy and Action Plan

Cabinet considered a report relating to the development of a Stockton Heritage Strategy and action plan.

It was explained that there were many local and regional strategies relating to heritage, and activities which celebrated Stockton's history, but they were not brought together in any one plan, and there were gaps. New technology had generated new opportunities for Stockton to connect and reveal aspects of history, and to release a wealth of knowledge and information from local people.

Cabinet was given details of the current position and also the proposed development of a new encompassing strategy for heritage, based around five heritage themes:

· Early Stockton, iron-age, Roman and Saxon Stockton
· Railway and engineering heritage including petrochemical industries
· Our World War I and II contribution
· Plaques, trails and interpretation in the landscape
· Recent/Living history and community interest in heritage

Cabinet was informed that an overarching Heritage Strategy would exist as a written document published online, providing a framework for the work of various Council Services, community groups and heritage agencies. A new micro site within Stockton.gov.uk would allow people to add comments and pictures, driving an ever-increasing body of information on Stockton's Heritage and living history.

It was noted that this would then be translated into an implementation plan.

It was considered that it would be helpful to bring together an Officer Steering Group to drive the production of the plans and the development of the micro-site. It was noted that the group could report to the existing Urban Environment Task Group to provide a wide underpinning of member and officer input.

It was explained that given the focus on user generated content and on unlocking the expertise and interest of local individuals, it was considered helpful to establish an Independent Advisory Group to oversee the production of the strategy and the website content, and to promote widespread involvement. It was proposed that the Independent Advisory Group should include elected members covering all parties, key academic figures and local historians, and representatives of the established local history groups or societies.

RESOLVED that:-

1. the development of a single overarching heritage strategy based on the 5 heritage themes be approved.

2. the formation of an officer steering group and an Independent Advisory Group to oversee the development of the Heritage Strategy and the Heritage Stockton micro-site be approved.

3. an implementation plan be developed by summer 2009.

To make the most of Stockton's heritage and provide a focus for local people's interest in and knowledge of our history.

None

None

Not applicable

Midnight Friday 13th March 2009

• (Attachment: 1)Report