Decision details

RECOMMENDED:    

1. The Council endorses the Vision Manifesto (appendix 1) and the Business Plan (appendix 2) for the Centre for submission to the Towns Fund and NHLF.

2. That following consideration of the options for securing funding for the Guildhall and Creative Hub set out in section 4, the council agrees to amend the capital programme as set out in section 7.3 in the report, to underwrite the match funding required in order to secure the Towns Fund allocation.

3. In the event the NLHF Stage 1 or 2 applications are not successful, a further report be brought back to Cabinet and relevant Panels to confirm the final project scope and extent of funding required as detailed in section 7.3 of the report

4. That following a consideration of the options for a governance and operating model that a new separate entity is formed. That on consideration of options (appendix 3), that this entity is a newly formed for purpose Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).

5. That the process of forming a new Independent CIO with a wholly owned trading subsidiary is commenced and matters relating to this including:

·         Finalising the constitution and Governing Document the way the CIO will run 

·         Selecting the Chair and two initial trustees before an application to the Charities Commission is made as detailed in section 5 of the report.

·         Choosing a name

are delegated to the Monitoring Officer and Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Business, Culture and Heritage and the newly formed task group.

6. The financial implications of the decisions as set out in section 7 of this report are endorsed and reflected in the Council’s Financial Plan from 2025 onwards

7. Delegate authority to the Assistant Director for Property & Projects in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Commercial Property to negotiate and conclude the leases with existing tenants.

Reason for Decision

To provide the match funding evidence for the ‘Guildhall and Creative Hub’ to secure the £4.8m Towns Fund allocation.

A timely decision about how a future enterprise will be governed and the model under which it will operate is an important part of planning the ‘Guildhall and Creative Hub’ project and the associated funding submissions. The decision will demonstrate to funding bodies that the council is giving careful consideration and certainty at this stage to the future sustainability of the investment being sought and the key documents that will define the relationship between the council and the entity that will run the Guildhall and Creative Hub.

The project directly supports and will deliver against the Council’s commitment and ambitions for culture as set out in the Council’s Cultural Prospectus and Town Investment Plan (2021).