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Letter to Edwina Grant
Mrs. E. Grant
Director of Children’s Services
Central Bedfordshire Council,
Priory House, Monks Walk,
Chicksands, Shefford,
SG17 5TQ
Dear Mrs. Grant
Bedfordshire Music
You will be aware that the Friends of Bedfordshire Music have some serious concerns about the current reorganisation of the Music Service. They recently set up a Working Group to look at possible ways of supporting the continuation of the Service.
It is generally acknowledged that Bedfordshire has a high quality Music Service that is recognised around the country. The Service also attracts young people from across the administrative borders. Councillors have recognised the high quality of the Music Service and expressed their support for such a service (Scrutiny Committee 30 November 2010).
Disaggregation will naturally split the Service: its teachers, pupils, orchestras, bands, the instrument and music stock, and the administration. This split is likely to have a detrimental effect especially on the teaching of specialist instruments (such as oboe, bassoon, trombone, tuba to name a few).
It appears to the Working Group that disaggregation flies in the face of the Government’s expectations that authorities, administrations, back offices and many other functions come together and do not fall apart. Duplication of management and administration duplicates costs to the detriment of the Service and will lead to a weakened Service which may not survive in either Central Bedfordshire or in Bedford Borough in the way in which it has been built up over the years to its current position of strength. It would also mean that the Service may well fall below the ‘critical mass’ required to operate efficiently. In fact many London Boroughs are already exploring ways in which they can work together to create this ‘critical mass’. Experience in other regions of the country where disaggregation has taken place shows that this usually leads to a lack of a coherent strategy of development for music and tensions between the rival organisations.
Whilst acknowledging the significant financial support over the years from the former County Council and Central Bedfordshire Council, the Friends seek information on the following:
- What is felt to be wrong with the current service?
- What effect will the development of the Academy Model of schools have on the funding of the Music Service?
- What options have the authorities investigated for the future of the Music Service?
- What service do the authorities expect to see in the future and how do they see it being run?
- How do the authorities expect to deal with the instrumental stock and the music library stock?
- Do the authorities envisage County orchestras and bands exhibiting skills to the current levels and if so, how?
- How will the teacher resource be met in each authority, especially the provision of specialist teaching on minority instruments?
- Will a fragmented Music Service qualify for the grants which are currently received? Will not the Government view larger, more economic services, more favourably?
Even at this stage, might the authorities be prepared to look at an independent body delivering the Music Service into which they would buy thus bringing back the economies of scale, which can safeguard the approach which each authority seeks? This could include such matters as fee structure, level of support each authority is prepared to give (either financial or ‘in kind’), sharing of the instrument stock and Music Library. This would be in line with the Government’s wishes to develop new hubs to maximise resources of people and organisations working together.
With the above in mind, and in view of the fact that the Henley Review heartily endorsed the value and good work of Music Services and the subsequent Government decision to sustain the Music Grant for a year to give music services time to prepare a way forward for 2012, would the Portfolio Holders and Directors be prepared to meet the Friends to discuss fully the merits of the current approach of disaggregation, and the possibility of backing a County Service through an independent, arms length, management?
If that were to be possible then representatives of the Friends of Bedfordshire Youth Music would be pleased to meet at a time and place convenient to the Officers and Directors. There are a number of alternative structural models in the country and it would be worthwhile considering those for Bedfordshire.
The Government has given Local Authority Music Services the opportunity to sustain and further improve music education provision. But there are strings attached. The major expectation is for Local Authorities to demonstrate how they can provide economies of scale and maximise the potential of partnerships.
I very much hope that you will be able to give this matter serious and urgent consideration and that a meeting as proposed may be possible.
Yours sincerely
Ian G. Smith
Chairman of Working Group of Friends of Bedfordshire Youth Music
Cc Portfolio Holder Children’s Services
Leader of Central Bedfordshire
Reader Comments
Ian Hedges, 15-Mar-2011 22:29
Update on the future of Central Bedfordshire Music Service on blog.ijhedges.com
Rosalinde Woodroffe, 27-Mar-2011 07:54
As a parent I am dismayed by the news to split the service as already the impact on the cost of music lessons and attending a music centre has been made apparent.
The above letter has pointed out how the action is contrary to good financial management and leaves me 'reading between the lines' as to the decision's real long term purpose!
Kathryn Tipping 27-Mar-2011 23:55
I heartily endorse everything that Ian Smith has said in his letter. I wish to see Central Bedfordshire consulting with Bedford Borough to seek the best outcome for all children in Bedfordshire in the provision of instrumental teaching and joint musical experiences. These are essential for the musical growth of our youth, and I cannot see that, with no apparent desire of the two councils to work together, the most efficient situation can possibly be brought into being. I feel sick at heart when I se all that has been so painstakingly built up over the years by Michael Rose and many others being undermined so comprehensively. Presumably the financial crisis will come to an end eventually, and unless something sensible is done now to keep the music service going in some acceptable form, the whole thing will have to be started again. What a waste.
Charlotte Dunham 29-Mar-2011 19:02
I could not agree more with Ian's apt and coherent letter to Mrs. Grant; thank you for putting the case so eloquently. I do hope that music making will not become something only for those who can pay for it in Bedfordshire. We have spent the last 40 years making sure that this did not happen.
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