PLANS for Southampton to become a UK City of Culture are to move a step forward.

Cllr Satvir Kaur, cabinet member for homes and culture at Southampton City Council  (SCC) is to call upon civic chiefs, stakeholders, partners, and members of the local communities to support the creation of Southampton’s City of Culture bid for 2025.

Cllr Kaur will be moving a motion at today’s Annual General Meeting set to take place at the civic centre at 11am.

All parties are expected to support her request, as she will call for residents from different backgrounds, ages, abilities, races and religions to come together and help develop the bid which aims to “help Southampton reach its full potential”.

If successful, the bid is expected to spark millions of pounds worth of inward investment.

Cllr Kaur’s motions, which has been published ahead of the meeting, says: “Council wishes to build on our, and other stakeholders, investment in arts and culture-led regeneration to use culture to shape and deliver sustainable economic, social, environmental, health and wellbeing outcomes for not only our current communities but also future generations of residents, visitors, artists, innovators and businesses in the decades to come. ”

Cllr Dan Fitzhenry, leader of the Conservative group, said the party will second Cllr Kaur’s motion.

“This would be a great achievement for the city. We are at an intentional stage at the moment which is why the support from all political party is key,”he added.

Brad Roynon, chairman of Southampton Cultural Development Trust, said this is the right time for Southampton to put its bid forward after the development of the new cultural quarter which provided facilities for the John Hansard Gallery and the Nuffield Theatre along with restaurants, bars and apartments.

He added: “This is leading to a very powerful offer that makes us think that Southampton is ready to bid for the UK City of Culture.”

The time frame for the initiative has not been revealed yet, but Mr Roynon said it is understood a bid should be made by the end of next year.

Giles Semper, chief executive of GO Southampton, the city’s Business Improvement District, said they will back the bid.

He added: “Hull’s status as the UK City of Culture attracted more than five million people, £220m of investment and 800 new jobs, according to a recent report.

“We want the same or more for Southampton.”