Agenda and minutes

Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube.

RESOLVED: Councillor Nockolds was appointed Chair of the Task Group and Councillor Morley was appointed Vice Chair of the Task Group.

Councillors Hudson and Bower.

Councillor Hudson was present at the meeting remotely under Standing Order 34.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Members should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on an item or simply observing the meeting

There was none.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chairman proposes to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube.

The Chair explained that she did have a matter of Urgent Business to bring to the Task Group, which was about the formation and membership of the CIO.

RESOLVED: The Task Group agreed that this item be considered as urgent business, in exempt session, at the end of the meeting.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chair of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.

Councillors Hudson, Moriarty and Ryves.

The Task Group noted the Terms of Reference.

Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube.

The Task Group considered the Cabinet report and additional documents that had been circulated in relation to the Business Case for the St George’s Guildhall and Creative Hub project and made the following comments.

Councillor Crofts broadly supported the project and felt that it was important that it was well marketed and needed to be cost effective.  He made reference to commercial elements and that lessons should be learned from the previous failed HLF bid.  King’s Lynn as a Heritage Centre needed to be promoted as a whole.  Councillor Crofts explained that he was keen on promoting coach trips into the town centre and this project could be a catalyst for this.  Information was provided from officers on the CIO business plan and marketing support.

Councillor Morley commented that the Guildhall was a huge attraction and needed to be refurbished and operating as a performing arts complex based on Shakespeare’s connections and its history.  He stated that experts had judged that the figures presented were the best estimates and we had to support these. However, the benefits of a creative hub did not appear to be evidenced in the case and it was difficult to envisage what will be happening in the hub to add value to the whole complex and the symbiotic or holistic relationship is not clear or explained. 

The Chair, Councillor Nockolds made reference to the rental opportunities and how they related to creativity and activities relating to the development of skills.

Officers provided information on the attendance estimates and explained that these included school visits and school performances.  The Portfolio Holder reminded Members that this plan had been through the Town Board and a lot of work had been carried out to forecast attendances and income.  An Independent Appraisal report had also been conducted and found the Business Case to be satisfactory.

The Task Group discussed the Creative Hub and it was acknowledged, that going forward, more promotion within the business case would be of benefit to highlight how the Hub would achieve the outputs required.

Councillor Hudson, who was attending the meeting remotely, under Standing Order 34 commented that the attraction should be based on William Shakespeare.  It was explained that Shakespeare would be a feature, but the venue needed to be flexible so that a range of performances and activities could take place.

It was explained to the Task Group that co-ordination with the MUCH would take place.

In response to questions from Councillor de Whalley, it was explained that the Business Case and Business Plan were two separate documents and the Business Plan had already been approved.  It was also noted that the HLF was a separate application process and was not related to the Business Case.  With regard to the footfall estimates and information on volunteers within the Business Case it was explained that these were modelled with information provided by relevant organisations such as NMS.

Councillor Ryves addressed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To be agreed.

To consider passing the following resolution:

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act”.

Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube.

RESOLVED: That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

The Task Group discussed the formation and membership of the CIO and how the Task Group would be involved in processes. 

RESOLVED: At 6.00pm the Task Group resolved to continue to sit for an additional ten minutes.