Agenda item

Request from the Grand Theatre for Grant Support

Meeting of Cabinet, Tuesday, 11th March 2014 10.00 a.m. (Item 94.)

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hamilton-Cox)

Joint Report of Chief Officer (Resources) and Chief Officer (Regeneration & Planning)

Minutes:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Sands)

Cabinet received a joint report from the Chief Officer (Resources) & Chief Officer (Regeneration & Planning) to consider a request for financial support from the Grand Theatre, Lancaster in connection with their lease of City Council land.

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

	Option 1: Consider further the request for grant support to the Grand Theatre and seek further information in support.	Option 2: Do not consider further the provision of grant support to the Grand Theatre.
Advantages	May provide an opportunity to support the Grand Theatre and their development proposals.	Avoids extra cost pressures for the Council at a time of increasing budgetary pressure. Reduces the likelihood of a future conflict of interest with the canal corridor redevelopment.
Disadvantages	Involves extra resources (officer time) and potential extra cost to the Council at a time of increasing budgetary pressure.	A missed opportunity to financially support the Grand Theatre.
Risks	May raise expectations. Cost and value for money uncertainties. Runs contra to aims for moving to a commissioning approach. Could lead to other similar applications for grant aid, or perceived unfairness.	Could be perceived as showing a lack of support for a well known cultural facility in the area (and also a lack of fairness).

A successful Grand Theatre benefits the District in artistic, cultural, regeneration and community development terms. In reputational terms it is probably one of our strongest attractions. It is also a key element in the Canal Corridor scheme. There may be a case for providing support to the Grand Theatre, but the full pros and cons for any case are not known. There are, however, other such operations within the district that could also make a case for assistance. There is also potential for the aspirations of The Grand Theatre to conflict with the proposals contained within the Development Agreement entered into with British Land/Centros. Therefore, consideration must be given as to the appropriateness of such assistance should a conflict of interest arise that is detrimental to these regeneration proposals.

It is necessary for Cabinet to balance these matters along with the implications of reducing income at a time of increasing budgetary pressure, in deciding whether to take this matter any further. If a decision is made to progress the request, a further report would be produced for Cabinet to complete its decision-making.

Councillor Smith proposed, seconded by Councillor Sands:-

“That option 1 be approved and that the Board of the Grand Theatre be invited to submit further information with regard to their development proposals and how the Council might assist in these.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

That option 1 be approved and that the Board of the Grand Theatre be invited to submit further information with regard to their development proposals and how the Council might assist in these.

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Officer (Regeneration & Planning)

Chief Officer (Resources)

Reasons for making the decision:

The decision allows for further consideration once detailed proposals are submitted and is consistent with the Cultural Heritage Strategy as a successful Grand Theatre benefits the District in artistic, cultural, regeneration and community development terms.

Supporting documents: