Agenda item

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The Project Officer provided an update on the Guildhall project which covered construction progress, funding status, stakeholder engagement, fundraising efforts, business plan development and outreach activities.

The Chair thanked the Project Officer for the report and presentation and invited questions and comments from the Panel as summarised below.

In response to questions from the Chair, the Project Officer confirmed that Tim FitzHigham had overall responsibility for fundraising.  The CIO played a key role in accessing specialist funding streams unavailable to the Borough.  The Project Officer explained Tim FitzHigham led the mixed?model fundraising approach planned for the coming years, and that the fundraising consultant worked under his direction, with their time allocated according to agreed priorities.  The Project Officer clarified that the strategy set out the CIO’s ability to attract both capital funding for construction and revenue funding for long?term operations.  They were key to accessing funding streams that the Borough could not apply to directly.

In response to a question from Councillor Colwell, the Project Officer explained operational risks such as water leaks and global events affecting materials and costs were being managed with insurance claims and built-in contingencies and the project team were tracking costs and risks closely, with no current impact on budget or timeline.

Councillor Bubb asked what plans were in place to promote that Shakespeare was in King’s Lynn.  The Project Officer confirmed efforts to promote the Guildhall’s Shakespeare connection was ongoing, including partnerships with national Shakespeare organisations and outreach to schools and libraries.  Officers were working to ensure the message peaks at the right time and to book significant touring companies well in advance.

Councillor Ryves asked whether the business plan was being continuously kept under review.  The Project Officer confirmed the business plan was under continuous review, led by the new Assistant Director for Culture and Leisure, and that there responsibility is to ensure the plan is fit for purpose and responsive to changing demographics and market conditions, with a focus on multiple income streams and operational durability.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Business commented that this was a major project managed by several officers and highlighted that, although a fundraising team was now in place, Tim FitzHigham had undertaken significant work promoting the project internationally.  The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Business emphasised that raising substantial funds was a long?term process.

The Portfolio Holder for Culture and Events reminded the Panel that outreach and education work had continued across the borough during the construction period, including activity in schools and libraries to maintain engagement with young people.  The Panel were also reminded that the project covered the wider Guildhall complex, including galleries, the café and the restaurant, and that significant ongoing outreach activity supported the overall programme.

The Chair proposed that the panel receive updates every six months, focusing on financing, technical issues, and preparations for the opening, to ensure ongoing transparency and oversight.

RESOLVED: That the Regeneration and Development Panel acknowledge the update and receive updates every six months focusing on financing, technical issues, and preparations for the opening.