Issue - meetings

Storey Creative Industries Centre

 

 

Meeting: 03/07/2012 - Cabinet (Item 26)

26 Storey Creative Industries Centre

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hanson)

 

Report of the Head of Financial Services (Report to Follow)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hanson)

 

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Executive to provide an update on the Storey Creative Industries Centre (SCIC) Ltd’s current financial position and to determine the way forward regarding the Council’s involvement in the Centre.  An exempt version of the report that included commercially sensitive information had been produced to support Cabinet’s decision-making.

 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

 

OPTIONS FOR THE WAY FORWARD

 

The way forward therefore depended on whether the Council wished to provide a creative industries centre or whether it wished to pursue an alternative future for the building.

 

In terms of the Council’s Corporate Plan, there was nothing specific regarding the continuation of a creative industries centre although having a successful operation could contribute to:

 

-        maximising the district’s cultural offer

-        increasing participation in arts, culture and entertainment events.

 

The Council has committed to working with the Duchy to consider options for the long term use of Lancaster Castle.  The Storey building occupies a prominent position and in future there may be other potential avenues to be explored regarding its use.

 

The Council still had service level agreements in place with Litfest and the Storey Gallery but these placed no obligations on the Council in connection with the Storey building itself.

 

Options for consideration were as follows:

 

Option1

                      Withdraw support for the Storey being used as a creative industries centre, and request a report back on all future options for the building.

 

Advantages

Disadvantages

Risks

 

Avoids the need to set up management arrangements and other work involved, as well as the risks attached in taking on the running of the facility.

 

Allows consideration and development of alternative uses for the building in future.  Such options and any opportunities may be influenced by the future plans for Lancaster Castle.

 

 

Loss of creative industries centre and any spin off benefits for the local economy or community.

 

Major disruptions for existing tenants, including VIC potentially.

 

Likely short to medium term operational implications and difficulties subject to reaction of current tenancy base, until such time the council is able to gain vacant possession.

 

No clear alternative use of building at present.  It would be empty (or virtually so) for a period at least.

 

Involves formal legal action, which could be protracted and would tie up staff resources, as would development of alternatives for the building.  This would have adverse impact on other workloads and priorities.

 

At a strategic level, there is a risk that an acceptable future alternative use (or disposal) of the building could not be identified or secured and this would exacerbate the various substantial financial, reputational and operational risks that exist whichever option is chosen.

 

 

 

 

Option 2

                      Continue to support the Storey being used as a creative industries centre but under the Council’s direct management and control, authorising the Chief Executive to take actions as necessary, prior to reporting back to Cabinet.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26