Secret plan to wind up Culture Company

Aug 29 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL’S Culture Company is set to be dismantled in the fallout of the Mathew Street Festival saga.

It is understood a secret plan to scrap the company is currently being drawn up within the city council, and is expected to form part of the outcome of the internal inquiry being conducted into the fiasco, which is expected to report soon.

The Culture Company, organiser of the Mathew Street festival, has been at the centre of the political row which followed the cancellation of its outdoor stages following health and safety concerns. The Daily Post understands the majority of the 100 staff at the Culture Company, many of whom are already seconded from the council, would be switched back to the authority.

Earlier this month, a leaked email written by council leader Warren Bradley revealed he had asked for the Culture Company chief executive, Jason Harborow, to be relieved of his duties following the problems over Mathew Street.

Full details on how the break-up would work are not yet known, but it follows last week’s calls from board members of the Culture Company – including Phil Redmond and Roger Phillips – for the board to be disbanded.

It was also confirmed last night that a special council meeting to discuss the fiasco will be held next Wednesday at which Labour will call for a QC to lead an independent inquiry into the affair.

Last night, leader of the Labour opposition, Joe Anderson said it was a sensible time to consider wrapping up the Culture Company because most of the programme was already lined up.

But he said he was worried the company’s dismantling would be offered up as a way of deflecting criticism from the council.

Last night, Cllr Bradley said he was not going to pre-empt the inquiry’s conclusions.

But Culture Company sources said it would be a cruel blow if their programme was handed over to others to “take the glory”.

Cllr Bradley is set to meet Culture Company chairman Prof Drummond Bone to discuss a way forward.

It is unclear what would happen to senior staff like the chief executive, Jason Harborow, who is also executive director of culture, media and sport at the city council.

Next year’s programme is set to be announced in the autumn and the company could now easily be scaled down, said Cllr Anderson, who resigned from the board earlier this year.

“However, what it should not be done for is to deflect criticism from any wrongdoing.”

He said that, whatever the report from the inquiry said, he would not recognise it.

“People will have no faith in it.”

Last night, a high-level insider at the Culture Company said: “We will have an even bigger announcement to make in November about something that will put Liverpool on the world map.

“It would be a cruel irony if the glory for all our hard work was snatched from the hard-working people responsible and allow newcomers to steal the glory and the limelight.”

Last night, Professor Bone said: “I shall be putting to Warren something like the proposal outlined by Phil (Redmond) but we should also remember that at the board’s next meeting in September, Jason Harborow will be putting the latest version of the 2008 programme in front of us, and I fully expect this to be very, very exciting.”

Mr Redmond’s recommendation was for the board’s responsibilities to be passed back to Liverpool council and a scaled-down team set up to review and support the delivery of the 08 festival.

OPINION: PAGE 10

davidbartlett