Below is the Emergency Notice of Motion about The Blues Festival that we have put forward for the Pendle Borough Council meeting this evening.
The iconic Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival has been a staple event in Pendle for over 30 years. Almost every year since its creation, we have seen tens of thousands of people flock to Colne Town Centre, enjoying the music and helping to boost the local economy.
Following the unexpected cancellation of the Blues Festival by the Lib Dem controlled Colne Town Council, without consulting the public, the outcry from both the public and local businesses has been massive. A petition was setup almost immediately by a member of the public and within days it has been signed by over 5,000 people.
Given the public outcry, the Council resolves to:
1. Immediately contact Colne Town Council seeking urgent clarification on their intentions for the 2022 Blues Festival.
2. Urgently investigate options for Pendle Borough Council to assist the delivery of the Blues Festival in 2022.
3. Work with the public and local businesses, to establish a charitable trust which can take on the Festival in the coming years, protecting the Festival’s long-term future.
4. Request Colne Town Council transfer the copyright of the name of the Festival to Pendle Borough Council until such a time that the Charitable Trust can be established, and the naming rights be transferred to them.
5. Request that control of the mailing list and website for the Blues Festival be transferred to Pendle Borough Council, until a trust is established.
6. Ask Officers to investigate if the Blues Festival qualifies for funding from the Government’s Additional Restrictions Grant, NESTA Cultural Impact Development Fund, Arts Council England National Lottery Projects Grants, Culture Recovery Fund: Emergency Resource Support, Music for All - Community Project Funding and PRS Foundation - Open Fund for Organisations and prepare applications if the “New Blues” meets the criteria of these funds and others.
7. Ask Officers to investigate if any of the millions of pounds of funding given to the Council from the Government to tackle Covid and aid recovery, would be available to help deliver the Blues Festival should Pendle Council be required to deliver the Festival in 2022.