A week after it was broadcast live, 43 viewers have now witnessed what can only be described as a political “car crash” on YouTube — a committee meeting of Fenland District Council that lasted just 13 minutes but managed to fumble, stumble, and disintegrate in real time.
Last Monday marked the first meeting of the Fenland District Council Culture, Arts & Heritage Executive Advisory Committee of the year. In fact, it was the first time the committee had met since June 2025, when Councillor Lis Sennitt Clough was appointed chair.
Back then, the committee meeting lasted an hour. Members made recommendations, set plans for the year ahead, and produced seven pages of minutes — nearly 3,000 words carefully recording ambitions, actions, and cultural priorities.
https://www.youtube.com/live/T7m74QgLY64?si=q4ORjj52MNKcc3Jt
This time, the contrast could not have been starker.
With Sennitt Clough’s acrimonious departure from the council — and effectively as chair of the committee — her successors were left trying to pick up the pieces.
The result was, by all accounts, an excruciating embarrassment.
Her absence was the elephant in the room. Without the former Whittlesey councillor’s presence and enthusiasm, the committee appeared woefully ill-prepared to seize the moment.
Apologies, promotions, and an empty agenda
Two committee members sent apologies: Councillor Jan French and Councillor Steve Tierney.
That left the remaining councillors to vote in the former deputy, Councillor Brenda Barber, as chair, with Councillor Mark Purser elevated to vice chair.
The June 3rd minutes were agreed and passed over without comment — a surprise, given they detailed the hopes and aspirations of the committee for the rest of last year and into this year.
Those minutes, now seemingly forgotten, contained major plans and recommendations for Fenland’s cultural future.
Big funding, bigger questions
In June 2025, members received updates on major cultural initiatives underway in Fenland, including projects supported through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and newly awarded Arts Council England Place Partnership funding.
Fenland successfully secured £420,000 from Arts Council England, part of a wider programme valued at approximately £900,000 when partner contributions, sponsorship targets and earned income are included.
Members welcomed the investment but raised concerns about governance, transparency, and demonstrable community benefit.
Councillors questioned the timeline for visible public outcomes.
Carol Pilson advised that the Arts Council bid includes a high-level three-year programme roadmap, and members suggested this should be shared to understand milestones through to March 2028.
Sennitt Clough proposed structured progress updates every three or six months, so members remain informed as the partnership develops.
Calls for financial transparency
Councillor Mrs French raised concerns over how Arts Council funding and partner contributions would be allocated across the twelve partner organisations involved.
Councillor Paul Hicks stressed the need for accurate figures, not broad estimates.
Jaime-Lea Taylor, then Creativity and Cultural Development Officer, confirmed a detailed budget exists and that Arts Council investment carries significant monitoring requirements.
Members requested a simplified high-level budget summary for transparency and assurance around responsible use of public funding.
They also suggested delivery partners and grant recipients should provide post-event reporting, including evidence of expenditure, participation outcomes, and community impact.
Fenland culture fund success
The committee noted the continued success of the Fenland Culture Fund, delivering two rounds of small grants to local creative individuals and organisations.
Councillor Mrs French requested further information on successful applicants and suggested wider community engagement, including Golden Age Fairs.
The chairman confirmed all applicants were Fenland-based and award details were published online.
Festival planning and assisted living updates
Councillor Mrs French highlighted the need for early communication with festival and event organisers ahead of pilot cultural programming planned for Summer 2026.
Members recognised major events require long lead-in planning and timely engagement across the district.
The committee also requested updates on engagement with assisted living facilities and the Culture Partnership communications subgroup.
Jaime-Lea Taylor advised she was not overseeing those areas and did not have immediate information available.
Follow-up was welcomed at a future meeting.
Fens Flag and Poet Laureate plans
The June minutes also included updates on the Fens Flag Competition, with a proposed framework submitted to the Flag Institute.
On the Fenland Poet Laureate Awards, Sennitt Clough suggested producing an annual diary of key Fenland events for the Poet Laureate to maximise participation.
Members debated eligibility criteria after concerns that recent winners did not reside in Fenland.
Options included strengthening application requirements with intention statements outlining commitment during the year of office.
Schools engagement was also discussed, with low participation noted despite outreach.
Members agreed alternative approaches to youth engagement may be needed.
All That… Forgotten in 13 Minutes
Despite the detailed June roadmap, those minutes “sunk without trace.”
Instead, the chair moved quickly to the only other agenda item:
“Scoping Discussion To determine the way forward for the committee.”
Councillor Lucie Foice-Beard asked, optimistically:
“Do we have any plans for the poet laureate this year? And if so, what does that look like?”
Councillor Barber replied she had spoken to “2020” — a March-based community group — about the Poet Laureate competition.
“They did advise me that they wanted to go ahead with it with or without us,” she said.
Indeed, 2020 is pushing ahead. Their website states: “The Fenland Poet-Laureate competition is now open. Entries can be submitted between the 1st and 31st March 2026. It is open to anyone that lives, works or attends a school in Fenland.”
Barber said she told them she would be happy to go ahead but didn’t know how the committee would feel.
“So, it may be something that we have to discuss um and come back to them with.”
Councillor Hicks pointed out: “Well, we’ve always supported them in the past, so why not do it again?”
Barber asked if anybody else wanted to discuss Poet Laureate.
Silence followed.
Searching for something ‘new and different’
Barber then asked whether the committee could think of anything new to do.
Purser offered a sudden idea: a possible competition for young musicians.
Hicks agreed, suggesting something like a Fenland Young Musician of the Year, with heats, age categories, and a prize or trophy.
Purser imagined contestants performing on bandstands across the district.
But then came the moment that underlined the committee’s precarious position.
A council officer stepped in to mention that Jaime-Lea Taylor had left the council since the last meeting: “We no longer have a culture officer at the council anymore.”
The officer noted the communications team had limited resources but could help with promotion through social media or press releases.
Hicks stressed that if there was to be a competition: “There’s got to be something worth winning at the end of it.”
Purser disagreed, arguing that taking part was enough and that many famous bands started from nothing.
A meeting ends — and so might the committee
And with that, the meeting came to an abrupt close.
“If there’s no other suggestions, this marks the end of the meeting then,” said the chair.
A sentence that may resonate among the upper echelons of Fenland Council as the committee’s fate is determined in the coming weeks.
What was once a committee with pages of plans, funding oversight, cultural ambition, and civic aspirations now risks becoming little more than a 13-minute YouTube curiosity — watched by just 43 people.
