As a result of the Hodge Review (see AP174), Arts Council England (ACE) has published eight regional plans responding to the findings of its review of the regional cultural infrastructure. This marks the next phase of plans to abolish the Regional Cultural Consortia (RCCs) and replace them with a partnership of the DCMS’s four key cultural agencies in each region. ACE, Sport England, English Heritage and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council will have a duty to work together to jointly deliver shared priorities across the culture and sport agenda. These include regional strategies, local area agreements, the commitment by local authorities to developing sport and culture, and liaison with the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games on the Cultural Olympiad. In seven of the regions, the four agencies, working with the RCCs, have created joint plans of action for the culture and sport in their region. Yorkshire Culture (the RCC for the Yorkshire region) had already been wound up at the end of October 2008, so the four agencies in Yorkshire have been implementing transitional arrangements up to March 2009. It is anticipated that this arrangement will continue.
