Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of City Development providing an update on the current position regarding the bidding process to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest and which seeks approval to submit Leeds’ bid to host the contest in 2023. In doing so, the report also seeks necessary approvals regarding the Council’s financial contribution to Eurovision together with the delegation of authority in respect of determining the final composition of the funding mix.  

(Please note that Appendices 1 and 2 to this report are designated as being exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3)).

The Director of City Development submitted a report which presented the context and the progress made to date regarding the bidding process for the hosting of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest.  In doing so, the report specifically sought approval to the submission of Leeds’ bid together with the associated financial contribution towards the Song Contest.

In presenting the report, the Executive Member for ‘Economy, Culture and Education’ provided an overview of the current position regarding the bidding process, highlighting that it was with deep regret that Ukraine, having won the 2022 Contest, was not in a position to host the event in 2023. However, it was emphasised that Leeds, if selected, would look to deliver an outstanding event on behalf of Ukraine and its people.

The range of factors as to why Leeds was in a unique position to successfully host the event were highlighted. These included:-

·  How the proposals were consistent with the supportive work and acts of solidarity which continued to take place with Ukraine, including the large Ukrainian population in West Yorkshire. Specific reference was made to the recent proposals regarding the twinning of Leeds and Kharkiv;

·  How the proposals would complement both the ‘Leeds 2023’ and ‘Bradford 2025’ cultural initiatives and how, with continued liaison with relevant partner organisations, the developing infrastructure for those initiatives would help to successfully deliver this event;

·  Emphasis was placed upon Yorkshire’s wide-ranging musical and cultural heritage, and how this event would look to build upon that, whilst also celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Ukraine;

·  Leeds’ previous experience of hosting major events of national and international significance was highlighted, both in terms of those hosted from within the First Direct Arena and also those which had been delivered on a citywide basis.

In discussing such matters, Members endorsed the comments which had been made and confirmed support for the submitted proposals. The Board specifically endorsed the approach being taken by Leeds, in that if the bid was successful, the Contest would be delivered on behalf of Ukraine and its people.

Members also highlighted the huge economic impact that the hosting of an event on this scale would have, with specific reference being made to the benefits which would be felt by the hospitality and retail sectors, amongst others. 

With regard to the First Direct Arena, Members noted how it had been  designed primarily as a venue for large scale music events such as this, and as such it was felt that the arena would be an excellent venue to deliver the Eurovision Song Contest.

Following consideration of Appendices 1 and 2 to the submitted report designated as being exempt from publication under the provisions of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3), which were considered in private, it was

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the submission of Leeds’ bid to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, be approved;

(b)  That the Councils’ financial contribution to Eurovision, as detailed within the exempt appendices to the submitted report, be approved, with approval also being given to the delegation of the necessary authority to the Director of City Development to enable the Director to agree the final composition of the funding mix, in consultation with the Chief Officer Financial Services and with the Executive Members for ‘Economy, Culture and Education’ and ‘Resources’; 

(c)  That approval be given for the decisions taken by the Executive Board from the submitted report, as resolved above, be exempted from the Call In process due to the short timescale of the bidding process and to ensure that the associated submission deadline is met.

(The Council’s Executive and Decision Making Procedure Rules state that a decision may be declared as being exempt from the Call In process by the decision taker if it is considered that the matter is urgent and any delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s, or the public’s interests. In line with this, the resolutions contained within this minute were exempted from the Call In process, as per resolution (c) above, and for the reasons as detailed above and as set out within sections 32 - 33 of the submitted report)